The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that more than 17,000 cases of infections linked to rodents and external parasites have been recorded among displaced people in Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli aggression and blockade since October 2023.
WHO’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territory said worsening conditions are driving rising infections, while health workers face severe shortages of medicines and equipment, according to UN sources.
The organization estimated Gaza’s health sector losses at about $1.4 billion, with over 1,800 health facilities partially or fully destroyed.
She warned that most families remain displaced in overcrowded tents, with widespread skin diseases reported in over 80% of shelters, including scabies, lice, and bedbugs.
She also stressed that medical supplies and lab equipment are still being blocked from entering Gaza, calling for urgent removal of restrictions and protection of health workers.
UN mine action officials warned of large-scale unexploded ordnance across Gaza, saying it poses a major threat to return and recovery efforts and will require $541 million to address.
Since October 2023, the war has caused tens of thousands of deaths and injuries, while a ceasefire remains in place but is reportedly violated with continued restrictions on aid.
