Gazas Children Struggle with Skin Disease Crisis Amid Hunger and Burn-like Rashes

Health Concerns Rise in Gaza’s Overcrowded Camps

A surge in skin diseases has been reported in overcrowded camps in the Gaza Strip, with children being disproportionately affected. Iman Abu Jame, a 32-year-old resident of Khan Younis, is caring for her six-year-old son Yasser, who suffers from unexplained rashes and burn-like wounds.

Yasser’s family lives in a cramped tent in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, where thousands of displaced people are packed together with limited access to sanitation and basic necessities. The area has been described as catastrophic due to the heat, garbage, and contaminated water.

Iman attributes Yasser’s illness to months of severe food shortages and soaring prices, which left her family unable to afford even basic meals. Malnutrition weakened his body, followed by infections that have yet to be clearly diagnosed.

According to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), skin diseases are spreading rapidly among displaced families in overcrowded camps. In 2026 alone, more than 17,000 ectoparasitic infections were recorded, with over 62% of those affected being children under the age of two.

Medical teams at MAP’s Solidarity Polyclinic have reported a sharp rise in skin diseases, particularly scabies, which has led to severe infections and painful abscesses. The clinic has treated over 77,000 people since its opening, with doctors witnessing the devastating impact on children who are most vulnerable to disease.

The spread of disease is attributed to overcrowded tents, unsafe water, poor ventilation, and a lack of hygiene supplies. Families in these camps struggle to cope with the conditions beyond their control.

Source: Al Jazeera