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Hundreds of thousands are facing the threat of diseases such as cholera in the Gaza Strip, as the dead pile up and water and electricity cuts continue, humanitarians and local officials told The National on Thursday.
“We are incredibly concerned that if there isn't a greater level of access to water and sanitation, which requires electricity to enable the delivery of these services to people residing in densely populated urban areas, that there will be an outbreak of infectious disease,” said Michael Talhami, the International Committee of the Red Cross's strategic adviser for critical infrastructure and essential services in the Middle East.
The Israeli blockade has cut off electricity, clean water and fuel supplies, with only a small amount of UN convoys carrying aid entering the besieged enclave daily.
Gaza is facing a “serious threat to the public health due to pollution and lack of sewage treatment and control of its spillage from the north-east of the city into the sewage system”, Hosni Mhanam, Gaza municipality's spokesman, told The National.
The municipality is trying to find a short-term solution to provide water to civilians, he said.
“We have given out tens of barrels in several residential areas on a daily basis, despite the daily danger our staff faces while doing so,” Mr Mhanam said.
If authorities are unable to find a solution, then this “will lead to the spread of disease and insects which may also result into the seeping of this filthy water into the groundwater system”, Mr Mhanam said.
An outbreak of infectious disease if these circumstances persist is foreseeable and hence preventable
Michael Talhami,
International Committee of the Red Cross
Civilians are taking refugee in overcrowded shelters, hospitals and schools across the strip, which has created poor sanitation conditions after 1.4 million people fled their homes ahead of intensified Israeli bombardment in the north.
“Typically, the types of infectious disease that could be expected to occur in such circumstances include cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid,” Mr Talhami said.
“An outbreak of infectious disease if these circumstances persist is foreseeable and hence preventable.”
Hundreds of thousands would be vulnerable, he said, and the number “really depends on how things unfold in terms of what types of coping mechanisms people will have access to in order to meet their basic water and sanitation needs”.
Mr Talhami was referring to civilians being able to maintain basic hygiene, have access to clean water and to keep away from sewage.
Electricity is key in preventing this catastrophe from happening, he said.
Following Israel's electricity cut in Gaza, the desalination plants all shut down. So did the wastewater treatment stations.
This has left the entire territory without running water, and people drink whatever dirty water dribbles out of the pipes.
“Without access to electricity, many of these large wastewater treatment plants that serve hundreds of thousands of people simply cannot function,” Mr Talhami said.
Without the means of pumping waste water out of populated areas, there is a high risk of sewage overflow and flooding in parts of the Gaza Strip, he added.
Amid heavy Israeli shelling, sewage lines have been destroyed in certain areas and as a result, civilians are directly exposed to wastewater.
People are also having to resort to drinking and bathing using only 3 litres of water per day, he said.
The World Health Organisation has said that 50 to 100 litres per day per person are needed to ensure proper hydration and sanitation.
Mr Mhanam says Gaza is facing a serious “thirst problem”, as nearly 80 per cent of local wells have been destroyed.
“About 80 wells and the desalination plant have stopped working in the north due to the harsh security situation. In Gaza city, 10 wells have been destroyed thanks to Israeli shelling,” Mr Mhanam said.
The Gazan official said the municipality needs assistance to recover the more than 2,000 bodies stuck under the rubble, as this could also contribute to the rapid spread of disease.
“We are calling for international groups to intervene and save our people and the city – to stop the spread of the impending infectious diseases that are threatening to destroy the city and its inhabitants,” he concluded.
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The%20Letter%20Writer
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
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7.30pm: Al Jazi
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Jebel Ali
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2.15pm: Galaxy Road
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3.15pm: Inverleigh
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4.15pm: Initial
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
