UN Human Rights Chief Says Disease Spread And Starvation In Gaza Is Inevitable

Palestinians were forced to flee due to the crisis in Gaza. (Source: UNRWA/Ashraf Amra)

JAKARTA - The UN human rights chief said on Thursday widespread disease and hunger outbreaks appeared "inevitable" in Gaza, after Israel launched weeks of attacks on the densely populated Palestinian enclave.

Speaking at informal briefings to UN countries in Geneva after visiting the Middle East, Volker Turk said the shortage of fuel would have a "disaster" impact on Gaza.

According to him, this will lead to the collapse of the waste disposal system, health services and end the scarce supply of humanitarian aid.

"The massive outbreak of infectious diseases and hunger seems unavoidable," Turk said, quoted by Reuters on November 17.

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned of a "worry trend" in the spread of disease in Gaza, saying there were a large number of cases of diarrhea in the region.

That's because the bombing and ground operations of Israeli troops have disrupted the health system, access to clean water. and caused people to crowd in shelters.

In his comments to the media following his briefing to UN member states, Turk said lasting peace was unlikely without an end to longstanding human rights abuses.

"Warnings from my office and other parties regarding human rights abuses for years have been ignored, not only in Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine, but also by countries that have an influence on the parties involved in this crisis," Turk explained.

"This needs to be changed so that this conflict can be resolved forever," he said.

Earlier, UNICEF said on Tuesday it had received reports of increased levels of dehydration and more than 30,000 cases of diarrhea in Gaza.