To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
The head of an aid group in Gaza has warned the besieged territory faces ‘imminent’ outbreaks water borne diseases.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Palestine (UNWRA), said an increase of skin diseases are also impacting the people of Gaza – which he said was unsurprising considering the unsanitary conditions in the enclave.
He described the situation for most as ‘desperate’ as ‘people are lacking everything’ as Gaza has only received 10% of its required food supplies each day in shipments from Egypt.
Follow the latest news from the Israel-Gaza conflict in our liveblog
The water system shutdown has left most of the Palestinian population drinking contaminated water.
Dehydration and malnutrition are also growing, according to the UN’s World Food Program.
The situation in Gaza continues to worsen by the day (Picture: AP)
The enclave is continually bombarded (Picture: AFP)
The UN was forced to stop deliveries of food and other necessities to Gaza late last week, and warned of the growing risk of widespread starvation after internet and phone services collapsed due to lack of fuel.
Follow Metro on WhatsApp to be the first to get all the latest news
Want to be the first to hear the world’s top stories? Metro.co.uk is now on WhatsApp sending vital updates and top trending stories straight to your phone.
Follow us to receive the latest news updates from Metro (Picture: Getty Images)
Join the Metro WhatsApp community now for breaking news, juicy showbiz stories and must-watch videos from across our website.
Simply click on this link and select ‘Join Chat’. Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you’ll always be the first to hear the latest!
Mr Lazzarini said he was in ‘full admiration’ of the UN staff who have endured terrifying experiences while working with the people living in Gaza.
He reassured the press that ‘UNRWA will stay. UNRWA has stayed. And we will scale up our footprint, scale up our presence, scale up our activities.’
Weeks of devastating Israel airstrikes in Gaza, followed by a ground invasion, have killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
It does not differentiate between civilians and militants, though some two-thirds of the dead have been identified as women and minors.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
The water system shutdown has left most of the Palestinian population drinking contaminated water.