DaysofPal — The United Nations (UN) has warned of a widespread outbreak of chickenpox among displaced populations in the Gaza Strip as deteriorating health and environmental conditions continue to worsen inside overcrowded shelters.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the United Nations reported approximately 9,300 cases recorded over the past two weeks, where the situation will worsen under the Israeli siege.
More than half of these infections were documented in the Khan Younis area, highlighting the severity of the outbreak in southern Gaza.
According to the United Nations, the rapid spread of the disease is largely driven by extreme overcrowding in displacement sites, combined with the collapse of water and sanitation services and rising temperatures.
These conditions have created an environment highly conducive to the transmission of infectious diseases.
Field teams have also reported alarming environmental indicators, including the presence of rodents and parasites in 83 percent of displacement sites.
In addition, the accumulation of waste and the pooling of sewage and stagnant water are significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.
The organization stressed that these conditions are accelerating the spread of communicable diseases and placing immense pressure on an already strained healthcare system.
Children, the elderly, and displaced families are among those most at risk.
The United Nations warned that the continued deterioration of humanitarian and environmental conditions in Gaza could lead to a broader public health crisis if urgent measures are not taken.
It called for immediate improvements in water and sanitation services, along with stronger healthcare interventions to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
Officials emphasized that without swift international action to address the worsening living conditions, the risk of additional disease outbreaks will continue to rise, compounding the already severe humanitarian situation in the territory.
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