UNRWA reports 125,000 skin infection cases in Gaza amid rodent, parasite outbreaks

GAZA, May 21 (YPA) – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned of a worsening health catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, announcing that over 125,000 cases of skin infections linked to rodents and parasites were recorded during the first five months of 2026.

The agency attributed the surge to the rapid collapse of the healthcare sector and the ongoing blockade imposed on the Strip.

The agency stated that its medical teams are treating approximately 400 cases daily, emphasizing that the proliferation of rodents and parasites poses a widespread health threat, raising fears of further disease outbreaks within overcrowded displacement centers.

UNRWA stressed that its capacity to scale up medical services remains contingent on the provision of medicines and medical supplies, which the Israeli occupation prevents from entering in the required quantities, calling on the international community to pressure for the immediate entry of aid.

This health decline comes as the ongoing war has destroyed water and sanitation networks. It aligns with previous reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), which documented over 17,000 similar infections among displaced individuals.

According to UN estimates, Gaza’s healthcare sector has sustained losses valued at approximately $1.4 billion, with more than 1,800 healthcare facilities destroyed or severely damaged, including Al-Shifa Hospital, alongside dozens of primary care centers, clinics.

YPA