WHO Warns of Rising Skin Disease Outbreak in Gaza Displacement Camps

DID Press: Health officials in Gaza Strip have warned of a rapidly worsening public health crisis in displacement camps, where increasing cases of skin and infectious diseases are being reported amid deteriorating living conditions.

Rami al-Shiyah, head of reception and emergency services at Al-Awda Hospital, said the facility is receiving a growing number of patients from displacement shelters on a daily basis.

He noted that a significant share of cases involves skin infections, severe allergies, scabies, and other communicable conditions, with children among the most affected groups.

Medical officials say the surge in illnesses is driven by a combination of factors, including a lack of clean drinking water, damaged sanitation systems, waste accumulation, and the spread of insects and rodents in densely populated camps.

Overcrowding and limited access to basic hygiene supplies have further worsened the situation, according to health staff on the ground.

The health official warned that continued disruption of water and sanitation infrastructure could lead to a broader outbreak of both skin and gastrointestinal diseases, particularly affecting children, elderly people, and patients with chronic illnesses.

He called on the World Health Organization and international aid agencies to urgently scale up support for Gaza’s strained health system, including the provision of clean water, disinfectants, essential medicines, and medical equipment.