Gaza: The United Nations warned in its latest Humanitarian Situation Report, issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), of a sharp rise in chickenpox cases across the Gaza Strip, reporting nearly 9,300 cases recorded across more than 130 health facilities in just two weeks, about half of them in Khan Younis.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the report highlighted that partners attribute this surge to deteriorating environmental conditions, overcrowding, gaps in sanitation and hygiene, alongside the summer season. The rise in reported chickenpox cases is occurring in a displacement environment marked by severe overcrowding, deteriorating hygiene conditions, and widespread environmental health hazards.
The report further emphasized that these risks are compounded by widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations, reported in 83 percent of assessed displacement sites. This is alongside other issues such as sewage in streets, accumulated solid waste, stagnant water, and poor sanitation conditions, which are exacerbating the health crisis in the region.