GAZA, Thursday, July 4, 2024 (WAFA) – Amidst the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a new health emergency is unfolding in displacement camps across central Gaza. The rapid spread of scabies, a highly contagious skin disease, is worsening due to sewage water accumulation between tents and the severe shortage of basic hygiene supplies such as soap and bathing facilities.
Approximately two million displaced Palestinians live in camps and shelters across Gaza, enduring harsh conditions with heightened risks of diseases and epidemics.
Compounding these health risks is a severe shortage of medications and medical supplies, exacerbating complications for patients and those affected. Dozens have tragically died since October 7 last year due to these shortages.
With inadequate water and sanitation facilities and overcrowded living conditions, the situation is ripe for the spread of skin diseases, particularly scabies.
Since the onset of Israeli attacks on the region, health organizations, human rights groups, and UN bodies have repeatedly warned of disease outbreaks among displaced populations due to overcrowding and declining personal hygiene.
Medical sources confirm that thousands of patients in Gaza are facing life-threatening situations due to medication shortages and the destruction of much of the healthcare infrastructure by Israeli forces.
Hospitals and health facilities have been targeted during the onslaught, rendering most of Gaza’s healthcare system inoperative and endangering the lives of patients and casualties, according to official UN data.
At the “Nakheel” shelter in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, sewage water collects between tents, where children play amidst contaminated waters due to the lack of alternative space. These polluted waters attract flying insects, including mosquitoes, and other pests that invade the tents, further exacerbating the suffering of the displaced.
One displaced resident, Um Mubarak Abu Khousa, described the deteriorating conditions inside the camp, stating, “We suffer from sewage leaks and the spread of diseases.” Speaking to Anadolu Agency, she added, “I suffer from hypertension and had a stroke, and all our children have fallen ill due to the poor living and health conditions.”
Um Mubarak recounted how worms infest their tent due to inadequate hygiene and the absence of insecticides, saying, “Every morning, I sweep out the worms.”
She emphasized that life inside the displacement tents is compounded by sewage leaks, diseases, insects, extreme heat, water scarcity, and financial instability.
Furthermore, amidst the unavailability of necessary treatments for their illnesses, Um Mubarak highlighted the case of her grandchild who recently developed a skin disease after falling into sewage water.
Sami Hmeid, the medical director at the shelter, issued a grave warning about the potential environmental disaster within the displaced camps due to the widespread scabies outbreak.
He attributed the spread of scabies to stagnant sewage water, which has become a fertile breeding ground for the mites responsible for the disease, exacerbated by the lack of chemical treatments over the past nine months.
Hmeid underscored the critical shortage of medicines and specialized medical treatments for skin diseases in Gaza, describing the situation as “extremely challenging.”
He highlighted the urgent need for international, local, and civil society entities to urgently contribute supplies of dermatological treatments.
In June last year, medical sources reported a 70% depletion of essential drug stocks from health depots, warning of imminent shortages of medicines and medical supplies, particularly for specialized conditions such as cancer and kidney failure.
The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza has resulted in over 125,000 casualties and injuries, predominantly among children and women, with more than 10,000 individuals still missing, amidst widespread destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of scores of children.
Despite international calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian intervention, Israel continues its military operations, disregarding UN Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice orders to cease the assault immediately and address Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation.
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