Senior UN Official Reports Sharp Deterioration in Palestinians’ Health Conditions
27 September – The Director-General of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported a sharp deterioration of medical conditions among the Palestinian people, blaming the trend on the escalating conflict in the Middle East and Israeli restrictions.
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland’s statement in Geneva on the health situation of people living in the occupied Palestinian territory painted a grim picture of nutritional status, mortality and available medical facilities. Closures and curfews are hindering the delivery of health care services, while water supply and sanitation conditions are in decline. “This is further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with casualties on both sides, which has resulted in continuous physical and mental suffering,” she said.
The WHO chief voiced concern that the communities in the occupied Palestinian territory, already in “considerable distress,” will continue to suffer ill health as long as hostilities continue, and stressed that she must be able to visit the region in order to supplement the agency’s findings – all based on data from the field – and craft a response.
27 September – The Director-General of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported a sharp deterioration of medical conditions among the Palestinian people, blaming the trend on the escalating conflict in the Middle East and Israeli restrictions.
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland’s statement in Geneva on the health situation of people living in the occupied Palestinian territory painted a grim picture of nutritional status, mortality and available medical facilities. Closures and curfews are hindering the delivery of health care services, while water supply and sanitation conditions are in decline. “This is further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with casualties on both sides, which has resulted in continuous physical and mental suffering,” she said.
The WHO chief voiced concern that the communities in the occupied Palestinian territory, already in “considerable distress,” will continue to suffer ill health as long as hostilities continue, and stressed that she must be able to visit the region in order to supplement the agency’s findings – all based on data from the field – and craft a response.