A leading pediatrician in Gaza has issued a grave warning about a dramatic increase in meningitis cases among children, as the region’s already fragile healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse.

Dr. Ragheb Wersh Agha, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Al-Nasr and Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospitals, reported a surge of infections in recent weeks, with hundreds of cases emerging among displaced children living in overcrowded shelters. These shelters often lack access to clean water, proper sanitation, and basic hygiene supplies—conditions that are fueling the spread of infectious diseases.

“The healthcare system in Gaza is collapsing under the weight of a brutal blockade and the systematic destruction of medical infrastructure,” Dr. Agha told reporters. “The situation has worsened significantly following the forced evacuation of over two-thirds of the Gaza Strip, forcing more than 1.5 million people into extremely cramped areas lacking the most basic necessities.”

According to Dr. Agha, severe overcrowding is greatly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, especially meningitis, which poses a serious threat to children. The crisis is further compounded by critical shortages of antibiotics, protective equipment, and essential medical supplies, leaving hospitals unable to respond effectively.

Dr. Agha called on international humanitarian organizations to take immediate action by providing clean drinking water, urgently needed medicines, and life-saving medical equipment. He also stressed the urgent need to strengthen primary healthcare services, now the only line of defense against potential epidemics in Gaza.

He urged the international community to fulfill its moral and humanitarian obligations, warning that continued global silence would only deepen the crisis and jeopardize the future of entire generations in the Gaza Strip.

“This is a complex health catastrophe,” Dr. Agha said, “and the world must not look away.” (ILKHA)