The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned of rapidly increasing disease risks inside Gaza’s overcrowded displacement camps, where deteriorating living conditions continue to fuel a deepening public‑health emergency.
In a statement published on its official website, OCHA said humanitarian partners have documented a sharp rise in skin diseases across hundreds of displacement sites, alongside a widespread infestation of rodents and other pests.
The agency stressed that these conditions are compounding an already fragile health environment and heightening the likelihood of further disease outbreaks among displaced Palestinians.
According to the statement, humanitarian teams are working to combat pest infestations and improve sanitation but face severe operational challenges.
These include limited supplies, restricted access to many affected areas, and the ongoing collapse of basic services across the Gaza Strip. OCHA noted that these constraints are significantly undermining efforts to stabilize health conditions inside the camps.
The agency emphasized the urgent need for increased international support, warning that without expanded humanitarian access, medical supplies, and sanitation resources, the health situation will continue to deteriorate.
OCHA called for intensified global efforts to reduce health risks and ensure safer living conditions for the more than one million displaced Palestinians sheltering in makeshift and overcrowded sites across the besieged territory.
Sources
UN OCHA humanitarian updates: https://www.ochaopt.org/
WAFA report on OCHA statement: https://english.wafa.ps/
