UN calls Gaza polio outbreak major health catastrophe

Addressing a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza on Thursday, Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator described the polio outbreak as part of a much larger public health catastrophe.

Dr. Mike Ryan, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergency Programme, underscored the severe impact of the conflict on Gaza’s healthcare system. As of 25 August, only 44 percent of the 132 primary healthcare facilities are functioning. Only 17 out of 36 hospitals are providing services and each of these is only partially functioning, Ryan added.