WHO warns of respiratory disease surge in Gaza following heavy flooding

On November 13, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning regarding a significant increase in acute respiratory infections within the Gaza Strip. The alert follows severe rainfall that flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians, creating critical conditions for public health.

Rene Van De Werdt, the WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, reported from Jerusalem that cases of acute respiratory infections have risen by 33,000 compared to the same period last year. The organization attributes this surge to extreme overcrowding and deteriorating living conditions, as the civilian population is forced into an increasingly confined geographic area. The humanitarian crisis has been further exacerbated by the expansion of Israeli military control and the shifting of the so-called "yellow line," a demarcation boundary established during the October truce brokered by the United States.

Health authorities warn that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming period. The concentration of people in limited spaces has facilitated the rapid transmission of viruses, severely straining local healthcare capacity. While the WHO continues to monitor the situation, the ongoing military activity and the destruction of shelter infrastructure present significant obstacles to providing adequate humanitarian and medical aid.