NEW YORK, July 8, 2026 (WAFA) - The United Nations warned in its latest Humanitarian Situation Report, issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), of a sharp rise in chickenpox cases across the Gaza Strip, reporting nearly 9,300 cases recorded across more than 130 health facilities in just two weeks, about half of them in Khan Younis.

The report said, “Partners link this surge to deteriorating environmental conditions, overcrowding, sanitation and hygiene gaps, alongside the summer season.”

It added, “The rise in reported chickenpox cases is occurring in a displacement environment already marked by severe overcrowding, deteriorating hygiene conditions, and widespread environmental health hazards.”

“These risks are further compounded by widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations, reported in 83 per cent of assessed displacement sites, alongside sewage in streets, accumulated solid waste, stagnant water, and poor sanitation conditions,” the report said.

T.R.