A sharp increase in chickenpox cases is spreading across displacement sites in Gaza, with humanitarian organizations warning that overcrowding, damaged infrastructure, and severe shortages of clean water, hygiene supplies, and medical resources are accelerating the outbreak.
According to the United Nations and its health partners, more than 9,300 chickenpox cases have been reported over the past two weeks, with nearly half of the infections concentrated in displacement sites in Khan Younis. The recent surge exceeds the total number of cases recorded during the conflict through mid-2024, highlighting the rapid spread of the disease.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through direct contact with fluid from skin blisters or through airborne transmission. Aid organizations say controlling the outbreak has become extremely difficult because many displaced families are living in overcrowded shelters where isolation is impossible.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) stated that approximately 1.7 million displaced people are currently living in around 1,500 temporary sites across Gaza. Humanitarian agencies report that limited living space, restricted access to clean water, sanitation services, and hygiene supplies has created conditions that increase the risk of infectious disease transmission.
The organization also noted that many displaced families are living in areas affected by rubble, damaged infrastructure, wastewater, and other environmental hazards. Restrictions on the entry of certain sanitation materials have further complicated efforts to control pests and improve hygiene conditions, contributing to an increase in skin diseases and other public health concerns.
Aid workers shared accounts of families struggling to care for infected children. In Khan Younis, one family reported that several children contracted chickenpox after a local clinic was unable to provide essential medicines due to shortages. In another displacement shelter, a mother explained that overcrowded living conditions, shared bedding, and limited access to water and soap made it impossible to prevent the virus from spreading among family members.
In response to the outbreak, the Danish Refugee Council has launched an emergency intervention targeting five high-risk displacement sites in Khan Younis. The programme aims to support approximately 6,250 people by providing safe water through water trucking, improving wastewater and solid waste management, and implementing infection prevention measures. The response also includes hygiene awareness campaigns, cleaning of communal areas, and the distribution of hygiene kits and soap in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF.
Humanitarian organizations continue to call for improved access to essential humanitarian supplies, including clean water, sanitation materials, hygiene kits, and medical assistance, to help contain the outbreak and protect the health of displaced communities in Gaza.
