Gaza Herald- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned of a deepening health crisis in Gaza after more than 125,000 cases of skin infections linked to rodents and parasites were reported between January and May 2026 amid worsening humanitarian conditions and severe shortages of medical supplies.
UNRWA said that shortages of medicines and deteriorating sanitation conditions in Gaza were increasing the risk of disease outbreaks as its medical teams treated nearly 400 cases daily while calling for greater humanitarian and medical aid access to the territory.
Despite the ceasefire that began on 10 October 2025 after two years of war, living and health conditions for about 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.4 million displaced people, remain severely deteriorated amid continued restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and basic supplies.
The World Health Organization reported that skin diseases such as scabies, lice, and bedbugs have been found in over 80% of displacement sites due to worsening living conditions, with more than 17,000 cases linked to rodents and parasites recorded among displaced people since the start of the year.
