{
  "id": 20168149,
  "title": "Respiratory illnesses rise in Gaza with worst to come as winter floods arrive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/respiratory-illnesses-rise-in-gaza-with-worst-to-come-as-winter-20168149",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T10:31:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/11/15/respiratory-illnesses-rise-in-gaza-with-worst-to-come-as-winter-floods-arrive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Health Organization has issued a warning of a surge in respiratory illnesses in Gaza, with the situation expected to worsen after heavy rains cause flooding in tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians. According to Dr. Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, the WHO representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, acute respiratory infections are currently 33,000 cases higher than the same time last year. The worsening conditions are attributed to poor living standards, severe overcrowding, and the Israeli military's expansion of control by advancing the Yellow Line, a demarcation established under a US-brokered ceasefire. This move has led to people living in more crowded conditions, increasing the risk of virus transmission. The Israeli military denies the claim that its actions aim to reduce the area available to civilians in the Gaza Strip. COGAT, the Israeli military agency coordinating aid, has reported that over 93,000 tents and more than 8,600 trucks with winter supplies have entered Gaza since the winterization plan was launched. However, the WHO faces challenges in bringing laboratory supplies to the region, which are crucial for diagnosing patients before they can receive treatment.",
  "summary": "The WHO said poor living conditions and severe overcrowding are driving up infections as Gaza's population is squeezed into an ever-smaller area.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "IDF: Over 93,000 tents enter Gaza ahead of winter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/idf-over-93-000-tents-enter-gaza-ahead-of-winter",
        "published": "2026-11-13T11:34:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Denmark pledges $8.9m in aid for Gaza amid severe winter flooding",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/denmark-pledges-8-9m-in-aid-for-gaza-amid-severe-winter-flooding",
        "published": "2026-11-13T12:32:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Respiratory illnesses rise in Gaza with worst to come as winter floods arrive, WHO says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/respiratory-illnesses-rise-in-gaza-with-worst-to-come-as-winter",
        "published": "2026-11-13T12:46:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "WHO warns respiratory infections surge in Gaza as winter approaches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/who-warns-respiratory-infections-surge-in-gaza-as-winter-approaches",
        "published": "2026-11-13T13:26:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "WATCH: IDF provides thousands of tents, winter supplies to Gaza Strip, says Hamas exploiting aid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/watch-idf-provides-thousands-of-tents-winter-supplies-to-gaza-strip",
        "published": "2026-11-13T13:30:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Dozens of nations, organizations demand Israel let more winter supplies into Gaza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/dozens-of-nations-organizations-demand-israel-let-more-winter",
        "published": "2026-11-13T14:19:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}