GAZA, (PIC)
The Gaza Strip has recently witnessed a noticeable surge in the spread of infectious diseases, most notably chickenpox, especially among children, amid humanitarian and health conditions that can only be described as “catastrophic.”
Field reports indicate that the spread of chickenpox among children in Gaza is directly linked to the deterioration of environmental and health conditions. The accumulation of waste and overflowing sewage has created an ideal environment for the transmission of skin and infectious diseases among displaced people, particularly in overcrowded shelters.
Symptoms and rapid transmission
Chickenpox typically begins with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and body aches, before developing into a rash and blisters that spread across different parts of the body.
The disease spreads easily through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected individuals, increasing its danger in crowded displacement settings.
Nermin, a displaced mother living in a shelter in northern Gaza City, told the PIC reporter that her five-year-old son first developed small spots that quickly spread across his entire body.
She explained that her child’s suffering goes beyond the illness itself, as it is worsened by the lack of adequate treatment, adding that all she can do is try to ease his pain with cold water.
Another mother, Umm Ahmad, whose three-year-old daughter Sujood is infected, said the rash has left her unable to sleep due to severe itching. She added that she tries to keep her child clean despite the severe shortage of water in the displacement camp where they live west of Gaza City.
Speaking to the PIC, the mother expressed fear that her daughter’s condition could worsen due to the lack of basic necessities, including water for hygiene and proper medical treatment.
The situation for Umm Youssef is even more difficult. Two of her children were infected in quick succession due to severe overcrowding in the classroom-turned-shelter they share with several families.
“We live in a single room with more than 20 people, most of them children. They play together all the time, and it’s very hard to prevent infection,” she said. “Two of my children were infected within days, and I fear the disease will soon spread to the others.”
Catastrophic conditions
Dr. Jamil Suleiman, director of Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza, confirmed a significant rise in infectious diseases, particularly chickenpox, among children.
He explained that chickenpox, known for its rapid spread among children, has become an even greater threat under the current harsh environmental conditions.
Suleiman noted that extreme overcrowding in homes and shelters across Gaza directly contributes to the rapid transmission of infections among children.
He added that the spread of disease is not limited to chickenpox but also includes various skin conditions caused by environmental pollution, especially with the spread of rodents and insects such as mosquitoes, along with animal waste, all of which worsen the overall health situation in the Strip.
He warned that the severe environmental deterioration in Gaza, caused by the accumulation of waste and the lack of proper sewage treatment, has created a fertile ground for the spread of viruses and skin diseases.
For its part, the Gaza Municipality warned of worsening environmental conditions due to the “massive accumulation” of waste and rubble, noting that the volume has reached approximately 350,000 cubic meters within the city, creating an environment conducive to the spread of diseases and pests.
Ahmed Al-Dremli, Director of Public Relations at Gaza Municipality, said that the widespread destruction of infrastructure and buildings has directly contributed to conditions favorable for the spread of rodents and insects, while municipal crews are unable to fully address the crisis due to a lack of resources.
Dr. Suleiman stressed that the continued deterioration of environmental conditions without urgent intervention will lead to a worsening health crisis, warning of broader waves of disease outbreaks if the situation is not quickly and effectively contained.
As if Gaza has not already endured enough, the spread of chickenpox highlights yet another dimension of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip. The combined effects of war, poverty, and unsafe environmental conditions now pose a direct threat to the lives of an entire generation. As infection rates continue to rise, the solution remains dependent on improving living conditions and providing urgent healthcare before the crisis escalates beyond control.
