WHO warns of 'imminent public health catastrophe' in Gaza

A "public health catastrophe" is imminent in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday (Oct 31) amid overcrowding, mass displacement and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure.

A "public health catastrophe" is imminent in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday (Oct 31) amid overcrowding, mass displacement and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier warned of the risk of civilian deaths not directly linked to Israeli bombardment.

"It's an imminent public health catastrophe that looms with the mass displacement, the overcrowding, the damage to water and sanitation infrastructure," Lindmeier told reporters.

Gaza health authorities say more than 8,300 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began air strikes on the Hamas-run enclave in response to the Oct 7 attacks when Hamas killed 1,400 people in Israel and took more than 200 hostages.

The Israeli military began ground operations in Gaza last week.