The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees warned on Thursday of a severe deterioration in public health conditions in the Gaza Strip, announcing that more than 125,000 cases of skin infections linked to rodents and parasites had been recorded during the first five months of 2026.
According to UNRWA, the destruction caused by the war has led to a major increase in rodents and parasites, while the collapse of water and sanitation infrastructure has accelerated the spread of disease.
The agency stated on X that “rodents and parasites are on the rise” and warned that the risk of disease outbreaks continues to increase.
UNRWA said its medical teams are currently treating around 400 cases daily but stressed they could do far more if adequate medicines and medical supplies were available.
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The organisation noted that the destruction of approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure — including water and sewage systems — has created catastrophic health conditions for the territory’s population.
The latest figures represent a major rise compared with previous estimates. On 25th April, the World Health Organization reported more than 17,000 cases of rodent- and parasite-related infections in Gaza since the beginning of the year.
UNRWA called for the large-scale entry of medical supplies into Gaza to contain the worsening crisis.
The agency also described the broader humanitarian situation as extremely critical, citing ongoing shortages of food, medicine, shelter materials and sanitation infrastructure affecting the territory’s roughly 2.4 million residents, including large numbers of displaced people.
According to the statement, despite the ceasefire declared in October 2025, Israeli bombardments and restrictions on humanitarian access have continued to affect civilians throughout Gaza.
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