UN warns Gaza skin infections could trigger wider health crisis

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, reported cases of skin diseases in shelters across Gaza Strip have tripled in recent months, particularly among children living in densely populated camps.

UN raises alarm over deteriorating conditions

Stephane Dujarric said the spread of skin infections and insect infestations among displaced Palestinians is accelerating, warning that the situation could evolve into a larger health disaster if aid access remains restricted.

He stated that infection cases in UN-run shelters rose from nearly 3,000 in January to close to 10,000 in recent weeks. Dujarric urged authorities to allow the entry of hygiene products, lice-treatment shampoos, lotions, pesticides and disinfectants into Gaza to contain the outbreak.

Overcrowded camps fuel disease spread

Displaced Palestinians described increasingly unlivable conditions inside camps across Gaza. Residents said overcrowding, waste accumulation and the presence of insects and rodents have made daily life extremely difficult.

In testimonies shared from the territory, families reported that hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are concentrated in limited areas with inadequate sanitation and little access to clean water or medical supplies.

Medical workers in Gaza also warned that shortages of medicines and equipment are forcing many families to rely on improvised treatments for infectious skin diseases, including scabies and chickenpox.

Health teams struggle with limited supplies

In Khan Younis, municipal teams have been attempting to disinfect tents and temporary shelters to slow the spread of infections. However, local officials say the lack of pesticides and chemical supplies has severely limited operations.

Saeb Lagan said that out of roughly 200,000 tents in the area, only around 50,000 had been disinfected over the past several weeks due to shortages of essential materials.

Doctors warn summer could worsen crisis

Healthcare professionals in Deir al-Balah reported that large numbers of children are suffering from contagious skin conditions linked to overcrowding and poor hygiene.

Doctor Selim Ramadan said skin diseases spread rapidly through close physical contact and are difficult to contain under current conditions.

He noted that treatment efforts are being undermined by the lack of medicine, poor ventilation, malnutrition and limited access to hygiene facilities, warning that the approaching summer heat could deepen the humanitarian and health crisis in Gaza.