The accumulation of bodies under the rubble in Gaza may cause the spread of various diseases

Weather of Arabia - Statistics from the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip indicate that the number of missing persons believed to have been killed under the rubble exceeds 2,700 people, with more than half of these victims being children, and warns of a health catastrophe.

In this context, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization, Ahmed Manzari, pointed out that corpses resulting from wars or natural disasters “usually do not pose a health risk to local communities except in rare cases,” but the current conditions in Gaza, with water and electricity cuts. The lack of means of prevention and proper burial may contribute to the spread of epidemics and diseases, according to an analysis by doctors and health experts conducted by the BBC.

Ahmed Ben Shamsi, communications director for the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch, warned that the accumulation of bodies without burying them properly could cause the spread of diseases and exacerbate health and environmental disasters.

It should be noted that medical personnel are making tremendous efforts to carry out their duties despite the limited resources available. However, medical workers face great difficulties in accessing bombed buildings for the purpose of recovering bodies. In addition, a large number of ambulances have stopped working due to a lack of fuel, and they are trying to provide the necessary services under difficult circumstances. In this context, Doctor Muhammad Al-Hawajra, MSF's medical coordinator at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, explained that medical teams face great challenges in carrying out their tasks due to difficult conditions, including the difficulty of reaching damaged buildings and securing the necessary fuel for medical vehicles.

How can the bodies accumulated under the rubble in Gaza cause diseases?

Dr. Muhammad Al-Hawajra explains that the accumulation of corpses without the ability to bury them can lead to a major health disaster as a result of rotting and decomposition of the corpses, causing contamination and the transmission of bacteria and viruses. It is indicated that this may lead to the spread of serious diseases such as cholera and others, which may affect the immune system.

However, Al-Hawajra shows that the lack of electricity and water increases the suffering, as he describes his personal experience, saying: “Last week, I was not able to provide water to my medical team for an entire day, as they had to work and provide first aid without the ability to drink water.” He points out that the need for water is not only limited to drinking it, but also to sterilize tools and fight infection. He points out a shortage of medical sterilization personnel as a result of the loss of many of them as a result of conflict and displacement, which makes the situation more complex and difficult in providing health care.

Lack of water and sanitation contributes to cholera

Human infection with cholera is linked to the lack of water and proper sanitation facilities, as it is emphasized that drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food increases the possibility of infection with cholera bacteria.

In this context, Ben Shamsi shows that the lack of water has a negative impact on health, body safety and hygiene, stressing that the absence of water contributes to the spread of epidemics and diseases.

For his part, Manzhari points out that the presence of corpses near or inside water sources can cause health problems, as corpses contribute to the contamination of water sources, which increases the risk of diarrhea and other diseases. He adds that one should avoid leaving corpses near sources of drinking water, and stresses the necessity of washing hands with soap and water after any contact with corpses, or using an alcohol solution if there is no obvious contamination.

Dr. Israa Al-Tawalba, a forensic medicine specialist, points out the importance of caution when dealing with bodies placed in the refrigerator, noting the necessity of placing the bodies in refrigerators at appropriate temperatures (4-8) degrees Celsius to prevent decomposition and the transfer of disease-causing anaerobic bacteria so that a proper burial can take place. .

Failure to bury bodies properly may lead to the spread of various diseases

Failure to bury bodies properly may lead to the spread of various diseases, as cholera can be transmitted when bodies are found near water sources. Experts also point out that there are bacteria and viruses that can remain active in the bodies of the deceased for a period, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV.

Dr. Israa Al-Tawalba, a forensic medicine specialist, points out that some animals, birds, rodents and insects may feed on corpses and cause infection, such as mosquitoes that transmit malaria. It warns that not burying bodies in proper ways may lead to transmission of infection to the living.

Dr. Muhannad Al-Nsour, a public health specialist, adds that corpses accumulated without being buried in the correct ways may rot, cause various diseases, and constitute a health and environmental risk, noting that they can be a source of communicable and infectious diseases, in addition to respiratory and skin diseases.

In this context, Al-Tawalba stresses the importance of embalming bodies when transporting them or placing them in the refrigerator before burying them, with the aim of preventing decomposition and the transmission of disease-causing anaerobic bacteria until the burial is done properly.

The destruction of health infrastructure during wars causes the spread of poverty and diseases

In times of war, poverty and diseases spread due to the destruction of health infrastructure, making people move to survive and leave health issues behind. Experts point out that during wars, bodies may not be buried properly, which increases the spread of diseases.

Dr. Israa Al-Tawalba, a forensic medicine specialist, stresses the importance of following preventive measures when dealing with bodies and dissecting them to avoid transmitting infection, especially if the doctors who perform the autopsies suffer from injuries. She points out that during the Corona pandemic, additional precautionary measures were taken when burying bodies infected with the disease to avoid transmission of infection.

For his part, Ahmed Manzri from the World Health Organization says that seeing corpses is painful, and stresses the need to take into account cultural, religious and family considerations in burial operations, while emphasizing the importance of carrying out burial operations in a way that respects local values and customs.

Source: bbc