Even if you get chickenpox, you have to endure it… A Gaza summer that leaves scars on your face and heart The sweltering summer heat in the Gaza Strip is suffocating. In this densely populated area, with a population of 2 million and a size of 365 square kilometers, the narrow streets are filled with people, and the temperature soars to over 38 degrees Celsius every day. The heat index, which takes into account the humidity, makes it feel like over 40 degrees. In such scorching heat, the residents of Gaza have to spend their summer. Gaza's power generation capacity has been significantly reduced due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas that began in 2007. Currently, Gaza generates only 50 megawatts of electricity per day, while its demand is 450-500 megawatts, seven to eight times more. As a result, the Gaza Strip has been suffering from chronic power shortages. In the past, Gaza's residents used to suffer from power outages for 8-12 hours a day. However, in the past year, with the help of UNRWA, Gaza has been able to avoid power outages of more than 8 hours. Despite this, the lives of Gaza's residents have not become easier. The chronic power shortage has become a chronic problem. The power outage schedule, which was previously 3-4 hours in the morning and 3-4 hours in the evening, has now been extended to 6-8 hours in the morning and 6-8 hours in the evening. Even when power is supplied, the voltage is low, so even major hospitals and dialysis centers cannot operate normally. The lives of Gaza's residents are getting more difficult day by day. The water shortage is also severe. The desalination plant, which supplies 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, only produces 5,000 cubic meters of water due to the power shortage. As a result, residents have to buy water from private water suppliers at a high price. The difficult situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by the recent heatwave. The heatwave has caused a surge in demand for electricity and water, which has further worsened the chronic shortages. The situation is so dire that even basic medical care is not available. Gaza's hospitals are overflowing with patients, and medical staff are working in extreme conditions without air conditioning. The lack of electricity and water has made it difficult to maintain proper hygiene, which has led to the spread of diseases such as diarrhea and chickenpox. The Gaza Strip's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. The chronic shortages of electricity, water, and medical supplies have made it difficult to provide proper medical care. The situation is dire, and the international community must take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's residents.
We haven't written up this one. Hankyoreh has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.
