The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the escalating public health risks in the Gaza Strip as the rainy season approaches. The humanitarian situation in the territory remains severe, with many residents living in overcrowded tent camps amid rubble and exposed sewage, conditions that experts fear could worsen with the onset of winter rains.

Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, highlighted a significant decline in water quality over recent months and a steep rise in waterborne illnesses, particularly diarrhoea. Testing of approximately 6,700 water samples between January and August revealed microbiological contamination rates nearly tripled, increasing from below 6% in January to over 18% in August. Van de Weerdt noted that limited laboratory capabilities in Gaza mean that not all contaminants can be detected, implying the public health situation may be even more critical than current data suggests.

Since the outbreak of conflict following an unprecedented attack inside Israel and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza, the region has been embroiled in a profound health and humanitarian crisis. Although a US-backed ceasefire went into effect in October 2025, violence has persisted, accompanied by strict Israeli restrictions on the flow of goods into Gaza. These controls have affected the availability of essential medical equipment, fuel, and other humanitarian supplies.

The WHO official expressed concern that flooding in overcrowded camps, often surrounded by large piles of garbage and overflowing sewage, could spread contamination into living areas. Standing water may create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests, while tents could become infested with mold, further endangering residents’ health. Cases of acute watery diarrhoea have nearly doubled since March, jumping from about 27,000 to over 48,000 by August, underscoring the growing health emergency.

Humanitarian organizations have previously accused Israel of targeting Gaza’s water infrastructure, citing reports that nearly 90% of water and sanitation facilities were damaged or destroyed during the conflict. Israel has strongly rejected such claims.

Van de Weerdt emphasized that despite the dire circumstances, swift action could still prevent a full-scale public health disaster. She called for the rapid and unimpeded entry of humanitarian materials necessary for improving shelter, water supply, and waste management. Additionally, she stressed the importance of enhancing laboratory capacity within Gaza to enable quicker identification of disease causes and more effective outbreak responses.