Professor Dr Abdelraouf Elmanama, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr Mohammed Srour, Head of the Clinical Nutrition Department at the Islamic University of Gaza, have participated in the international conference titled “Malnutrition and Famine in Gaza”. Held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January, the event was organised by the Association of Palestinian Doctors in Europe (PalMed France).
The academics’ participation aimed to shed light on the catastrophic health and humanitarian repercussions of the war on the Gaza Strip, particularly concerning malnutrition, famine, and their dangerous intersection with infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) amidst the collapse of the healthcare system and the ongoing blockade.
Professor Dr Elmanama presented a scientific paper examining the complex relationship between infectious diseases, malnutrition, and antibiotic resistance within the context of armed conflict. He presented the situation in Gaza as a stark case study of a devastating disease cycle driven by war, poverty, and the degradation of healthcare services.
In his presentation, Dr Srour addressed the cumulative impact of the war on the nutritional status of the Gaza Strip’s population over years of prolonged suffering, outlining the long-term health implications, specifically for children, women, and vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, Professor Dr Elmanama and Dr Srour chaired specialised scientific sessions during the conference, guiding in-depth academic discussions with international experts, researchers, and representatives of humanitarian organisations. The sessions focused on emergency intervention strategies and long-term approaches to mitigate the effects of famine and malnutrition in conflict zones.
This participation underscores the academic and research-driven role of the Islamic University of Gaza in amplifying Gaza’s voice within international forums and strengthening the Palestinian scientific presence in global health and humanitarian issues.