Middle East violence batters health

In mid-December, WHO issued a report listing the damage to health and health services in the Palestine Self Rule Areas as a result of the current violence affecting the region. To date, nearly 400 people have lost their lives, mostly Palestinian youngsters, and more than 10 000 have been injured, about half seriously. Health facilities have been ‘‘overwhelmed by the sudden burden of patients’’, the report says. Road blocks and border closures prevent health staff reaching their places of work and disruption of public services — water, electricity, sanitation and communications — increases the risk of disease and jeopardizes early- warning surveillance.

World Health Organization Genebra - Genebra - Switzerland
E-mail: bulletin@who.int