Overview
- Health officials and the UN reported roughly 9,300–9,500 suspected chickenpox cases concentrated in southern and central displacement camps in early July, with Khan Yunis among the worst affected.
- Doctors say crowded tents, shared sleeping spaces and limited access to clean water and soap have made isolating sick children unworkable and driven rapid person-to-person spread.
- Hospitals and clinics are reporting rising child hospitalisations while medicine, fuel and hygiene supplies remain scarce because Gaza's health system was damaged by two years of conflict and imports are restricted.
- Aid organisations and local clinicians are publicly urging immediate entry of medicines, hygiene kits and space for safe shelter to prevent more severe illness and further outbreaks of skin and respiratory infections.
- If supplies and access do not improve, health workers warn the outbreak and related conditions such as scabies, lice and diarrhoeal disease will worsen and keep children ill for longer, increasing strain on fragile services.