Gaza Herald – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned Friday of a sharp and dangerous surge in waterborne diseases and severe skin infections across the Gaza Strip, as forced displacement, extreme overcrowding, and the collapse of sanitation systems compounded an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The agency said restrictions on humanitarian aid have directly accelerated the public health breakdown.
In a statement posted on X, UNRWA reported that overcrowded shelters, deteriorating living conditions, scarce access to clean water, and the near-total collapse of sewage infrastructure had driven a dramatic increase in infections. Field medical teams documented a growing number of cases linked to contaminated water and inadequate hygiene facilities, particularly among children and the elderly.
UNRWA said it continued to provide primary healthcare services and emergency water and sanitation support, but stressed that its response capacity had been severely constrained.
The agency called for an immediate expansion of humanitarian access and the large-scale entry of medical, water-treatment, and sanitation supplies to prevent further escalation.
Separately, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that ongoing Israeli attacks on residential buildings and temporary shelters had resulted in significant civilian casualties and the destruction of entire neighborhoods.
Addressing the 61st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk warned that while the ceasefire had offered limited relief, it had not delivered safety or stability. Civilians, he said, continued to die from gunfire, exposure to freezing temperatures, hunger, preventable disease, and untreated injuries.
Türk further revealed that Gaza now records the highest proportion of child amputees in the world relative to its population, an alarming indicator of the scale of devastation. He condemned Israel’s decision to suspend the operations of approximately 37 aid organizations, ban UNRWA’s activities, and demolish its facilities in East Jerusalem, describing the measures as grave violations of international law that have deepened Gaza’s humanitarian collapse.
