'Her Skin Is Bleeding': Devastating Virus Wreaks Havoc in Gaza's Tent Camps

In the sweltering heat of Gaza, a devastating chickenpox outbreak is inflicting immense suffering on displaced families living in crowded tent camps. Nineteen-month-old Retaj is among the many children afflicted, her small body covered in painful lesions that have left her grandmother, Asma Ahmad Abu Ghali, distraught.

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If you have a look at [Retaj's] back you will see her skin is bleeding.

"If you have a look at [Retaj's] back you will see her skin is bleeding," Abu Ghali told ABC News, describing the toddler's agonizing condition. Retaj's discomfort is palpable as scabs form on her back. Her younger sister, Tala, just 25 days old, has also contracted the virus. The mother had recently given birth, and within a week, the infant fell ill, followed by her older sister.

While chickenpox is typically mild in most cases, the outbreak in Gaza is particularly severe due to a confluence of dire circumstances. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced by Israeli bombardment, forcing them into makeshift tent camps where sanitation is severely lacking. The intense summer heat further exacerbates the situation, creating a perfect storm for diseases to spread rapidly.

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This is alarming and a red flag.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, described the outbreak as "alarming and a red flag." The lack of basic hygiene in the camps is a significant contributing factor. Abu Ghali lamented the difficulty of maintaining cleanliness, contrasting the current situation with life before displacement: "When we were in our homes, we used to have [a] bath [two] to three times a day. Here [in the tent camp] we bath the children once in two days, or once every day." The available water is often unclean, and the camps are infested with fleas and mice, further compromising the health of the residents.

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When we were in our homes, we used to have [a] bath [two] to three times a day. Here [in the tent camp] we bath the children once in two days, or once every day.