GAZA, (PIC)
UNRWA has warned of a growing health crisis in the Gaza Strip as skin diseases spread rapidly through overcrowded displacement camps, amid fears conditions will worsen with the arrival of summer.
The agency said cases of skin infections in Gaza have tripled in recent months, driven by soaring temperatures, severe overcrowding among displaced families, deteriorating sanitation conditions, and the lack of clean water.
The situation has created what officials describe as an ideal environment for the spread of scabies, smallpox-like viral infections, and other skin diseases, particularly among children. With summer approaching, families and medical workers across the besieged territory are attempting to prevent a repeat of the 2024 outbreak, when at least 150,000 people in Gaza suffered from skin-related illnesses.
Health officials say the worsening crisis is linked to the collapse of the healthcare system following the Israeli war on Gaza, which began on 7 October 2023. Medical teams continue to struggle with severe shortages of medicines, disinfectants, and essential treatment supplies.
Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces continue carrying out attacks across different parts of the Gaza Strip while maintaining a tight blockade that has sharply restricted the entry of critical medical equipment and humanitarian supplies. As a result of dwindling medical resources, many Palestinians have resorted to home remedies to treat infections and skin conditions, while health authorities remain unable to contain the spread of disease effectively.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, warned that conditions inside displacement tents are deteriorating rapidly.
During a press conference last month, Dujarric said field teams had confirmed a continued rise in insect infestations and skin infections among displaced residents.
He noted that reported skin disease cases in UN-run shelters more than tripled during March, rising to around 10,000 cases compared with approximately 3,000 in January.
He called for urgent international support to increase the delivery of hygiene products, including shampoo, insecticides, and lice treatment supplies, warning that the crisis could escalate into a much wider public health emergency.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers continue efforts to disinfect thousands of tents in Khan Yunis in an attempt to curb the spread of infections, despite severe shortages of basic sanitation materials.