Tel Aviv [Israel], July 7: Dr James Smith, an emergency physician from the UK who has worked in Gaza's hospital, has told Al Jazeera from London that he saw a "catastrophic and entirely manufactured" humanitarian crisis during his recent trip to the besieged enclave.
He described a large number of displaced people living in "abject" conditions in makeshift tents crammed in a small geographical space with raw sewage flowing in the streets.
"Add in addition to that the complete and intentional decimation of the healthcare system and you have this catastrophic and entirely manufactured crisis as we now see in Gaza," he said.
Dr Smith said that the many of the skin diseases, including scabies and lice infestations, spread on "unprecedented level" in the enclave are relatively easy to treat and to prevent, but "without treatment and without good prevention can lead to catastrophic complications for many patients."
"If Israel was to allow and permit an entry of humanitarian aid, medical aid into Gaza as it is legally obliged to do as the occupying power, then this situation could be very quickly and very easily reversed," he concluded. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune