May 7, 2025, Cairo, Egypt-On February and April 2025, the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (EMHJ) published a special number in 2 parts on medical risks and on the implications for public health of the war in Gaza. The problem presents 38 articles on different aspects of public health.
Of the 38 articles, 11 focus on non -transmissible and chronic diseases, 11 on health systems and wider impact, 7 on trauma, 4 on infectious diseases, 3 on food safety and nutrition and 2 on the academic world. Nine articles focus on issues that directly affect children’s health, such as trauma and injuries, rehabilitation, mental health, cancer, diabetes, kidney failure and ophthalmic care, highlighting the enormous impact of the war to young people.
Health care was a serious victim of the conflict in Gaza. As of March 15, 2025, which had recorded 670 attacks on health care, leaving 886 dead health workers and 1355 injured. Only 21 of the 36 hospitals in Gaza and 72 out of 150 primary health centers were partially functional.
The special number documents the impact of the war on health care in Gaza, providing evidence for further research, as well as for politics, defense and targeted interventions. The articles highlight the horrible state of health care in the Gaza strip and attract attention to health problems that require an urgent and supported response.
The complete versions of the documents published in the 2 numbers are available for free for viewing and download on https://www.emro.who.int/emh-journal/eastern-mediterranean-health-journal/home.html.
EMHJ is a monthly open access magazine published by the WHO Regional Office for the eastern Mediterranean. It publishes articles in all areas of public health, in English, Arabic and French, in support of the strategic objective of the WHO to make health knowledge accessible to everyone.