DUBAI: Nearly 9,300 cases of chickenpox were reported in Gaza in just two weeks, with over half in Khan Younis alone, according to a recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
“The situation remains critical, with an urgent need to restore supplies to prevent further deterioration and potential loss of life,” said the report.
The surge has been linked to deteriorating environmental conditions, severe overcrowding, hygiene gaps, and the summer season.
Around 80 percent of Gaza’s population, about 1.7 million Palestinians, are living across nearly 1,600 active displacement sites where there are acute shortages of water, shelter and basic services.
Limited access to soap, inadequate waste management, sewage flowing through streets and overcrowded living conditions have all increased the risk of communicable disease transmission. The risks are amplified by widespread rodent infestations and pests across the Gaza Strip.
