Shelters and canvas tents in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic health challenges as they become fertile ground for the growth of viruses and infectious skin diseases. With the sharp rise in temperatures, these overcrowded places lack the most basic proper ventilation, threatening an imminent epidemic outbreak, led by chickenpox, which has already begun to appear among the displaced.
Field sources in Deir al-Balah reported that the tents have turned into hot ovens during daylight hours, while residents suffer from a complete lack of clean water for bathing or drinking. Displaced families have observed unknown red blisters appearing on their children's bodies, causing panic among parents who lack any means of isolation or treatment.
Overcrowding is the most prominent factor exacerbating the health crisis, as entire families are forced to live in very confined spaces, making social distancing impossible. The complete absence of sanitation services and the accumulation of solid waste around the tents directly contribute to accelerating the rate of infection transmission among the most vulnerable groups.
For his part, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Munir al-Barsh, confirmed that the health scene is witnessing a dangerous escalation in the spread of epidemics due to harsh living conditions. Al-Barsh explained in statements to media sources that the reduction of available space for residents after the occupation's control over about 70% of the Strip's area has created an unprecedented population density globally, making disease control a complex matter.
The medical system in the Strip suffers from a near-complete paralysis after the majority of hospitals and health centers went out of service due to direct targeting and fuel shortages. Medical staff complain of a severe shortage of essential medicines, antiviral drugs, and soothing preparations for itching, leaving those infected without medical care to alleviate their pain or prevent their condition from deteriorating.
Doctors warned that chickenpox infection in children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immunity under these conditions could lead to fatal complications. In the absence of cleaning materials and disinfectants, displaced persons find themselves unable to maintain personal hygiene, threatening a health catastrophe that could get out of control if the siege and closure of crossings continue.
The confined space where people live with unprecedented population density accelerates the spread of infection and the emergence of diseases.
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Warnings of a 'chickenpox' outbreak in Gaza displacement camps amid health system collapse