Arabic version: غزة تواجه أزمة متزايدة في الأمراض الجلدية مع اقتراب الصيف

According to Al Jazeera,

Gaza City, Palestine – The United Nations has warned that a new public health crisis is emerging in Gaza, as skin diseases spread in crowded camps throughout the enclave, with fears that the situation could soon worsen during the summer. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has said the number of skin infections has tripled in recent months, with rising temperatures, overcrowding and worsening sanitation creating a breeding ground for scabies, chickenpox and other diseases, particularly among children.

Families and healthcare officials are desperate to avoid a repeat of 2024, when at least 150,000 people in Gaza suffered from skin conditions, largely due to shortages in medical equipment brought about by Israel’s genocidal war on the territory. While a ceasefire has been in place in the Gaza Strip since October 2025, Israel has continued to strike the territory and enforced a blockade that has severely limited the import of essential medical equipment.

Fawzi al-Najjar, a displaced Palestinian living in one of Gaza’s refugee camps, highlighted the dire conditions, stating, “There are a million people crammed on top of each other. And we came here to live on top of a garbage dump. This is a huge problem. What are we supposed to do? Dogs, cats, fleas, and rats … look at my hand!”

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized the deteriorating situation, with infections among people in Gaza rising dramatically. He added that the crisis is now impacting almost 10,000 people compared with about 3,000 in January. Dujarric urged greater access for the entry of anti-lice shampoo, lotions, hygiene supplies, pesticides and insecticides, to avert an even greater public health emergency and prevent further harm to civilians. In Khan Younis, health workers are struggling to disinfect thousands of tents due to shortages of essential materials.

The situation is critical, with hundreds of children in Deir el-Balah suffering from skin conditions linked to poor hygiene and overcrowding. Dr. Salim Ramadan, a general practitioner in Gaza, noted that the rapid spread of skin diseases is exacerbated by close contact and a lack of available medications and proper living conditions.