Gaza: Spike in flu cases threatens Palestinians amid harsh winter, dire living conditions

An uptick in cases of seasonal flu is sweeping through the Gaza Strip this winter, threatening the lives of thousands due to severe Israeli restrictions on aid, including medicine and essential humanitarian assistance, despite this violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Palestinians infected with flu in Gaza are unable to take care of themselves as others would elsewhere or seek treatment, as thousands continue to live in flimsy tents and shelters, with little to no heating.

The inadequate living conditions have also exposed Palestinians to freezing and wet conditions, as Gaza grapples with a harsh winter.

Most displaced families are crammed into crowded shelters, such as schools, where they share the same air as hundreds of others, increasing the risk of contracting the flu and being unable to recover swiftly.

Samar Abdel-Hadi said her eight-year-old son, Mohammed, caught the flu about a week ago. "The fever and cough haven’t subsided yet. He can’t move or play because of his weakened and exhausted body," she told The New Arab’s Arabic-language site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

"I took him to a doctor who told me that the flu is particularly severe this year due to the consequences of famine, malnutrition, and lack of heating. He wrote me a prescription, but I couldn’t find the necessary medication, which forced me to buy less effective alternatives."

Abdel-Hadi said she fears that her son’s illness will worsen, given the cold weather. "My son shivered all night, and I am helpless in the face of his illness," she said.

Israel repeatedly imposed a siege on Gaza during the two-year war, prohibiting the entry of food, relief, and other necessities, leading to soaring hunger, malnutrition, and starvation levels in the enclave. Israel’s blockade also led to a shortage in medicine, risking the lives of those with illnesses and medical conditions.

Acute malnutrition cases persist in Gaza, particularly among children, leaving those infected with the flu unable to recover well due to weakened immune systems.

Pharmacy shelves in Gaza also remain nearly empty, while health centers continue to operate with limited resources.

Ahmed al-Farra, director of the maternity and paediatric ward at Nasser Medical Complex, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "The seasonal flu currently hitting the Gaza Strip is particularly acute due to the severe repercussions of the devastating Israeli aggression."

Al-Farra pointed to the impact of a lack of nebulizers, such as antibiotics, nutritional supplements, and immune-boosting foods, as contributing factors to the spike in flu cases.

"As a result, we are seeing children, men, and women in critical condition requiring intensive care, especially those suffering from chronic and autoimmune diseases, and adults with hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease," he said.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October, which stipulates the regular entry of humanitarian relief trucks, the UN and other NGOs have issued multiple warnings that insufficient aid is entering the enclave, due to Israeli restrictions. 

Israel in December also revoked the licenses of 37 international organisations, including those of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Norwegian Refugee Council, prompting fears that a halt in their operations will severely exacerbate Palestinians’ health.

Al-Farra called for international pressure on Israel to allow the increased entry of medical supplies necessary to treat the flu, as well as the entry of mobile homes in order to reduce overcrowding in camps and shelters, and to ensure a minimum level of warmth during the winter season.

As well as restrictions on the entry of aid, Israel is also violating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with near-daily strikes and home demolitions, killing Palestinians every day.

At least 421 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli since 10 October, while at least 71,386 have been killed since 7 October 2023.