Worsening Summer Conditions Fuel Skin Disease Outbreak in Gaza's Refuge Camps

Summer Brings New Health Challenges to Gaza's Refugee Camps

As summer approaches, families in Gaza are facing a looming public health crisis as skin diseases spread rapidly through the overcrowded refugee camps. The United Nations has reported that the number of skin infections has tripled in recent months. Rising temperatures, coupled with persistent overcrowding and poor sanitation, have created a breeding ground for ailments such as scabies and chickenpox, particularly among children.

Alarming Statistics and Conditions

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned of the dire situation, recalling the severe outbreak of 2024 when skin conditions afflicted over 150,000 individuals. Despite a ceasefire since October 2025, the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel has severely restricted the entry of essential medical supplies, worsening the living conditions for approximately one million displaced Palestinians.

Fawzi al-Najjar, a resident of a refugee camp, lamented the unsanitary conditions: "We came here to live on top of a garbage dump. This is a huge problem. What are we supposed to do?" With an absence of available medical supplies, many families are resorting to homemade remedies to treat their loved ones.

Calls for Urgent Action

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted the critical need for action: “The situation in displacement sites continues to deteriorate,” he stated. Health officials emphasize that the condition is affecting nearly 10,000 people, a dramatic rise from about 3,000 earlier in the year. Dujarric urged authorities for increased access to hygiene supplies such as anti-lice shampoo and insecticides to avert a public health disaster.

Disinfection Efforts Under Strain

In southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, health workers are striving to disinfect thousands of tents to curb the spread of infections. However, inadequate supplies hinder their efforts. Saeb Lagan, a spokesperson for the local municipality, reported, "We have sprayed more than 50,000 tents out of a total of 200,000. We are struggling with an inability to provide the necessary materials for the work."

Health Implications for Children

In the central area of Deir el-Balah, many children are already suffering from conditions linked to overcrowding and inadequate hygiene. Dr. Salim Ramadan, a general practitioner, noted, "Skin diseases spread rapidly due to close contact. Dealing with them is extremely difficult right now because medications are unavailable, and the proper conditions needed after treatment are also lacking."

The situation remains critical as healthcare workers and authorities grapple with the fallout of years of conflict, insufficient resources, and now the intensifying summer heat that exacerbates the prevalence of these skin diseases. Without immediate intervention and increased access to medical supplies, the health crisis in Gaza's refugee camps is likely to worsen, placing vulnerable populations, particularly children, at even greater risk.