The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning on Friday, highlighting the severe health risks facing Palestinians in Gaza due to extreme heat.

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The organization emphasized that the combination of scorching temperatures and widespread displacement from “Israeli” bombardment has created a precarious situation for public health.

The World Food Programme (WFP) echoed these concerns, predicting a significant public health crisis in Gaza. The shortages of clean water, food, and medical supplies have already strained the population, and the extreme heat is expected to worsen these issues.

“We’ve seen massive displacement over the last weeks and months, and we know that combination and the heat can cause a rise in diseases,” said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for Gaza and the West Bank.

He detailed the various health risks, including water contamination, food spoilage, and an increase in insects like mosquitoes and flies. Additionally, the heat poses direct threats such as dehydration and heat stroke.

The ongoing heatwave has already claimed hundreds of lives globally since the beginning of summer.

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Peeperkorn reported that cases of diarrhea are now 25 times higher than usual, a result of poor water and sanitation conditions. The WHO links these conditions to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis A.

The Rafah Border Crossing's closure since early May has further complicated matters, preventing medical evacuations from Gaza. According to Peeperkorn, an estimated 10,000 patients still require evacuation, with half suffering from war-related ailments.