GAZA, March 25, 2026 (WAFA) – A medical team from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) hospitals conducted a scientific study on the prevalence of scabies and impetigo among children in Gaza, revealing that these conditions are not isolated incidents but are closely linked to disasters, conflicts, and displacement.
According to a statement issued by PRCS on Wednesday, the study, which was conducted over a period of more than four months and published in the international journal Scientific Reports and indexed on PubMed, included 1,200 children—700 from PRCS clinics and 500 from displacement sites. The results showed that 409 children were diagnosed with either scabies or impetigo, while 791 were unaffected.
The study was conducted by a PRCS medical team under the supervision of Dr. Raed Abu Suria, a dermatology specialist, with the participation of medical students from Al-Azhar University.
Statistics indicate that children under 18 make up approximately 980,000 of Gaza’s population, or around 47%, highlighting the significance of these findings for the health burden on children amid displacement and conflict.
Most participants (81%) were from Deir al-Balah, with the remainder from Nuseirat, Az-Zawayda, Al-Bureij, and Al-Maghazi. Females represented 56% of the sample, and 40% were under the age of four, the group most at risk.
The study revealed that 91% of the participants were displaced, living in overcrowded conditions—61% of them sharing a single dwelling with more than 10 individuals. Access to clean water was limited, with only 44% consistently able to obtain safe water, 28% having reliable access to soap and cleaning supplies, and only 17% reporting daily bathing.
The findings confirm that displacement, overcrowding, and limited access to clean water are major factors driving the spread of these diseases, underscoring their connection to disasters and conflict rather than ordinary infections.
The statement highlighted that the study underscores the vital role of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), not only in delivering emergency and medical care to affected children but also in contributing to global scientific research that sheds light on Gaza’s health challenges and offers practical solutions to mitigate the effects of displacement and crises on children.
The statement said that PRCS continues its efforts on the ground, providing children with medicine, clean water, and preventive support, demonstrating that its work spans from emergency response to evidence-based health policy and the protection of Gaza’s most vulnerable generations.
T.R.
