- Current cases are 33,000 higher than at this point last year.
- Heavy rains have affected tens of thousands of shelters.
November 13, 2026 19:02
GENEVA: The World Health Organization warned on Friday that respiratory illnesses are rising sharply across Gaza, with the situation expected to worsen after heavy rains flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians.
“The numbers already show the pressure. Acute respiratory infections are 33,000 cases higher than at the same time last year,” said Dr. Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, the WHO’s Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking to reporters in Geneva from Jerusalem.
Poor living conditions and severe overcrowding are accelerating the spread of infection as Gaza’s population is compressed into an ever-smaller area, according to the WHO. The strain has intensified as the Israeli military extends its control by advancing the “yellow line,” a demarcation established under October’s US-brokered ceasefire.
“That means people are living in more crowded conditions, where of course the spread between humans of a virus is much more prone to spread,” Van De Weerdt explained.
The Israeli military and COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for coordinating aid, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Last week, COGAT said it had intensified efforts to improve sanitation conditions ahead of the heavy rain, working in coordination with international organizations.
Respiratory infections currently account for 11 percent of all medical consultations, and the WHO expects cold weather, flooding, overcrowded shelters, and poor ventilation to drive those figures higher.
“It is shocking that just a few days of rain really showed us what the coming months will bring. And winter has not even fully set in. The worst really is yet to come,” Van De Weerdt said.
Nearly a million displaced people in Gaza live in flood-exposed areas, and 400,000 of them are in locations considered to be at extremely high risk, according to the WHO. The agency said flooding increases the risk of contaminated water, while standing water provides more breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests. Dampness promotes the growth of mold and bacteria, which are major drivers of respiratory infections, particularly in young children.
While most medicines are reaching Gaza, the WHO faces difficulties bringing in laboratory supplies, which it says are essential for diagnosing patients before treatment can begin. “To prevent outbreaks, we really call to let laboratory equipment enter Gaza today, so that we can avoid a public health disaster on top of a disaster,” Van De Weerdt said.