Health Crisis in Gaza: Families Suffocated by Polluting Plastic

Doctors in Gaza have expressed deep concern over the alarming increase in respiratory illnesses among the population, exacerbated by extreme living conditions. The lack of basic supplies has forced many families to improvise fuels, using plastic and cardboard for cooking and to keep their homes warm. Health professionals warn that this critical situation will only worsen as long as the ban on the entry of medicines, food, and fuel into the territory continues.

Um Muhammad al-Masri, who has moved from Beit Hanoun, illustrates the desperate reality of many families. Dependent on an inhaler to manage her asthma, she has seen how the smoke from her rudimentary stove, which runs on waste, has complicated her health. “Without it, I would die,” she says, recalling that she obtained the device through UNRWA, as she does not have the resources necessary to afford her treatment.

The story of Aisha al-Ra’i is another manifestation of daily suffering. Pregnant and with health problems, she has to light the stove every day to feed her family. “We pray that this terrible experience will end,” she says in tears while searching for recyclable materials with her children to keep the fire going.

Um Mohammed Abu Zuaiter, a baker alongside her husband, also faces serious health issues. Despite having suffered a stroke, the need to provide for her family has led her to ignore her ailments. “I try to work because we need to eat,” she emphasizes, reflecting the harsh reality in which many families that depend on humanitarian aid live.

Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health, emphasizes that the use of plastics as fuel is contributing to the rise in cases of pneumonia and asthma, highlighting the deteriorating public health amid this humanitarian crisis.

Hospitals in Gaza are unable to meet the growing demand for medical care, limited by a lack of medicines and resources. The medical community is making an urgent call for international intervention, requiring pressure on authorities to allow the entry of essential supplies. As conflicts continue and more people are forced to leave their homes, the need for humanitarian assistance is becoming increasingly urgent. The United Nations has announced its intention to increase aid, although numerous obstacles remain that complicate the effective delivery of assistance to those who need it most.