Increased Incident Rate in Palestinian Refugee Camps by 40 Folds
In the Gaza Strip, the ongoing humanitarian crisis has been compounded by a surge in COVID-19 cases within Palestinian refugee camps. As of early August 2025, exact current case numbers in the camps are not specifically detailed in recent reports, but the situation is dire given the collapse of healthcare infrastructure amidst severe humanitarian and security crises.
The Gaza health system is critically overwhelmed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), 94% of hospitals in the region have been damaged or destroyed, and major health facilities are out of service. The last major hospital in North Gaza ceased operations as of December 2024.
The humanitarian needs in Gaza have escalated dramatically due to conflict, with 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million people displaced and extreme food insecurity affecting over 1.2 million people.
COVID-19 vaccination campaigns for children have been attempted with support from WHO and UNICEF, but access remains severely restricted due to hostilities. Apart from COVID-19, malnutrition, famine risk, and violence pose significant overlapping health emergencies, complicating the pandemic situation.
Medical evacuations are urgently needed but difficult due to restricted movements and the destruction of medical facilities. UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for the health, education, and food of Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories and neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, is struggling to meet these needs due to the spread of COVID-19.
International aid is crucial to address this crisis. Immediate priorities include a humanitarian ceasefire to allow safe access for aid delivery, restoration and support to health infrastructure, increased vaccine delivery and COVID-19 treatment supplies, food, water, and nutrition support given the escalating famine risks, and protection of health workers and patients from attacks.
Recently, Philippe Lazzarini, the new head of UNRWA, has expressed concern that if the virus spreads to Gaza, it could have dramatic consequences due to the area's high population density and difficulty in medical supply. As of the current situation, there are 9,000 registered COVID-19 infections among the 5.6 million refugees served by UNRWA. The surge in COVID-19 infections in Palestinian refugee camps has occurred over a period of two months, with the number of infections rising more than 40 times since July.
To mitigate catastrophic outcomes, international aid must prioritize both COVID-19 response (vaccination, treatment) and broader emergency health and food security assistance. Disinfectants and protective equipment for medical personnel are currently lacking in the Gaza Strip. More teachers and better infrastructure for digital learning are needed to accommodate the shift towards online education due to the pandemic. UNRWA urgently needs more help from the international community due to the spread of the virus.
- In light of the escalating healthcare crises in Gaza, organizations like UNRWA and WHO are advocating for environmental science to address climate change, as it may impact the survival of vital medical supplies in the region.
- Amidst the ongoing medical-conditions crises in Palestinian refugee camps, healthcare providers are increasingly turning to health-and-wellness practices such as mindfulness and stress reduction techniques to support mental health.
- Respiratory-conditions, such as asthma, exacerbated by air pollution and environmental degradation, have become more prevalent in Gaza as a result of the destruction of its existing medical infrastructure.
- Despite the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, some people are seeking out alternative treatments like CBD products, which are claimed to have calming and pain-relieving properties in the management of various medical-conditions.
