In Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on Earth, 2.2 million people were already living through a chronic crisis before what has now become a humanitarian catastrophe. As of 1st October 2024, over 41,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 96,000 injured, including 16,500 children. More than 10,000 people are missing or buried by rubble in Gaza. Up to 1.9 million people (90% of the population) are estimated to be forcibly displaced including people who have been repeatedly displaced (some up to 10 times). Many of these people are living in appalling conditions that are unsafe and unhealthy – without adequate shelter, food, water or medical care.

From the start of the conflict, hospitals across the Strip have been completely overwhelmed and have faced running out of critical supplies. Some medical facilities have been hit by indiscriminate bombing while others have been under siege. Our staff have repeatedly spoken of the wounded screaming without painkillers, how already sick people cannot reach care, and the fear of being hit in an airstrike. Now, after months of conflict, the threat of injury, illness and death has evolved beyond the violence. In Gaza, the risk of infection has become incredibly high and is putting lives at risk.

Infected wounds are common with patients facing the double hit of unsanitary living conditions and a healthcare system that is unable to provide the in-hospital treatment and support that they need. Meanwhile, infectious diseases – including diarrhoea, respiratory infections and hepatitis – are increasingly reported across Gaza. Pregnant mothers struggle to access maternity care and delivery rooms, leading to dangerous childbirth complications. And, as food and water shortages deepen, the World Food Programme reports that 96 percent of Gaza's people face acute food insecurity. The UN warns that a high risk of famine is persistent.