Gaza Herald – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned of worsening health and environmental conditions in displacement shelters across the Gaza Strip, stating that more than half of displaced families are living in life-threatening conditions amid the spread of sewage water and contaminated pools.
In a statement issued on Friday, the agency said that 52% of displaced families are residing in areas where sewage water and stagnant pools are present near shelters, significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and epidemics at a time when basic services continue to collapse.
UNRWA added that 64% of families reported that their children are suffering from skin diseases linked to environmental pollution, deteriorating sanitary conditions, severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, and the continued decline of water and sanitation services.
Deepening Crisis
The agency stressed that the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening as displacement continues and infrastructure further deteriorates. It underscored the urgent need for the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, and medical supplies to sustain essential services and curb the spread of disease among the population.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are living in shelters and temporary displacement camps that lack the minimum requirements for a dignified life, while large portions of water networks, sewage systems, and the healthcare infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.
UN agencies have repeatedly warned of the growing risks of infectious disease outbreaks and malnutrition, particularly among children, amid ongoing restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on the entry of humanitarian supplies and the continued deterioration of health and environmental conditions across the Gaza Strip.
