Gaza, July 18, 2024 - The Ministry of Health in Gaza has announced the detection of the polio virus in the sewage water of the sector, a result of the destruction of infrastructure by Israeli occupation forces. The ministry warned of a "real health catastrophe" that could threaten the lives of thousands of residents.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, the ministry explained that tests on sewage water samples, conducted in coordination with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), revealed the presence of the polio-causing virus.

The statement added that the presence of the virus in sewage water, which collects and flows between refugee tents and residential areas due to infrastructure destruction, represents a "new health catastrophe." The ministry also pointed to severe overcrowding, a shortage of clean water, contamination with sewage, and the accumulation of garbage, along with the blockade preventing the entry of cleaning supplies, creating a conducive environment for the spread of various epidemics.

The ministry stressed that the detection of the polio-causing virus "warns of a real health disaster," exposing thousands of residents to the risk of polio infection. The ministry called for an "immediate halt to the Israeli aggression, the provision of potable water, the repair of sewage lines, and the end of overcrowding in displacement areas."

It is noteworthy that the humanitarian and health conditions in Gaza have severely deteriorated due to the ongoing blockade and aggression, increasing the risk of disease and epidemic outbreaks among the population.

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