GENEVA, April 25, 2026 (WAFA) – The World Health Organization reported more than 17,000 cases of infections linked to rodents and external parasites among displaced people in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, amid worsening health and humanitarian conditions.

In a statement, the organization said that “desperate and dangerous conditions in Gaza continue to hinder recovery efforts,” pointing to rising infection rates among families as the health sector faces severe shortages of supplies and equipment.

The WHO estimated damage to the health sector alone at around $1.4 billion, noting that more than 1,800 health facilities have been partially or completely destroyed, including major hospitals such as Al-Shifa Hospital, as well as primary healthcare centers, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories.

According to the organization, its newly appointed representative in the occupied Palestinian territory,  Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, described the scale of destruction during her first visit to Gaza, saying that “nothing can prepare you for the sheer magnitude of devastation there.”

She added that reading reports and figures is not enough, as witnessing the destruction on the ground offers a far more striking understanding.

Van De Weerdt noted that over 17,000 infection cases have been recorded among displaced people, while more than 80% of displacement sites have reported skin diseases due to deteriorating living conditions.

She stressed that the WHO and its partners urgently need to bring in laboratory equipment and supplies to better understand the spread of diseases, noting that their entry has been restricted under the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza.

She called for immediate changes, including protection for healthcare workers, the entry of medicines and essential supplies, and the lifting of restrictions affecting the health sector

M.N