Published on 4/25/2026
The World Health Organization reported that more than 17,000 infections had been recorded among displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip linked to rodents and external parasites since the beginning of the year, amid deteriorating health and humanitarian conditions as a result of the repercussions of the Israeli genocide.
The organization said, in a statement on Friday, that the “desperate and dangerous” conditions in Gaza continue to hamper recovery efforts, noting high infection rates among families, at a time when the health sector lacks the medical supplies and tools necessary to respond.
The organization estimated the damage to the health sector at about $1.4 billion, noting that more than 1,800 health facilities were partially or completely destroyed, including major hospitals such as Al-Shifa Hospital, in addition to primary care centers, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories.
Despite the ceasefire agreement entering into force on October 10, 2025, two years after the war of extermination, the living and health conditions remain deteriorating for about 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.4 million displaced people, as a result of Israel’s renunciation of its obligations, and the continued restrictions on the entry of food, relief and medical aid and shelter materials.
The organization quoted its representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, Reinhild van de Weerdt, as saying, “Reading reports and numbers is not enough. Standing in the street amid piles of rubble several meters high gives a completely different picture of the extent of the destruction.”
The humanitarian organization noted that more than 80% of displacement sites reported skin infections such as scabies, lice, and bed bugs, as a result of deteriorating living conditions, and reported recording more than 17,000 infections linked to rodents and parasites among the displaced since the beginning of this year.
She pointed out the necessity of introducing laboratory equipment and supplies to understand the nature of the spreading diseases, noting that the imposed restrictions hinder this, calling for the protection of health sector workers and allowing the entry of medicines and basic supplies.
Ammunition hazard
In a related context, the head of the United Nations Mine Action Service in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Julius Dirk van der Walt, warned of the danger of unexploded ordnance scattered among the rubble, stressing that it hinders the return of residents and hinders recovery efforts.
He explained that the high population density in Gaza poses an additional challenge for mine clearance operations, noting that dealing with these munitions represents a daily emergency, and requires funding estimated at $541 million, in addition to providing permits and access to the necessary equipment.
Since the outbreak of the genocide, the Israeli army has bombed the Gaza Strip with more than 200,000 tons of explosives, including internationally banned bombs weighing 2,000 pounds, according to the latest statistics from the Gaza government media office.
