Post-ceasefire, Palestinians in Gaza are still living in dire conditions

Along with the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure and the health system by Israeli forces, this displacement has created a perfect storm for the spread of disease and illness. Israeli authorities must immediately allow a massive scale-up of humanitarian assistance to flow freely into Gaza.  

According to 2025 medical data collected by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams, diseases directly linked to poor living conditions—such as skin, eye, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections, as well as generalized aches and pains—account for 70 percent of all outpatient consultations in our health care centers in southern Gaza. Without immediate improvements to water, sanitation, shelter, and nutrition, more people will die from entirely preventable causes.

Poor conditions in the “humanitarian zone” of Al-Mawasi

Israel’s genocidal campaign has left Palestinians traumatized, injured, and dangerously exposed to the elements. Over two years of war, hundreds of thousands have been ordered to move south, primarily to Al-Mawasi—an area designated by Israeli authorities as a “humanitarian zone.” Conditions there are poor and deteriorating, with extreme overcrowding in an area that is already densely populated. Tents are tightly packed together, privacy is non-existent, and sewage systems are absent, exacerbating unhygienic conditions.

“In southern Gaza, families who have been forced to flee repeatedly are crammed into a sea of makeshift tents, packed into the few remaining schools, or sleeping in the open amid rubble, piles of garbage, animal waste, and overflowing sewage,” says Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, an emergency coordinator for MSF in Gaza. “It's utterly unacceptable.” 

As temperatures drop, fragile living conditions will increase people’s exposure to extreme weather. This, combined with the exhaustion they feel, will further heighten health risks as winter approaches. At the same time, options for care remain limited: Health facilities in the south are already operating above capacity and cannot absorb a growing influx of patients.

Diseases linked to living conditions are on the rise

“Malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, and poor living conditions are taking a devastating toll on people’s health—they’re especially getting sick because of the conditions they’re forced to live in,” says Adi Nadimpalli, MSF medical coordinator. 

The collapse of Gaza’s water and sanitation system—a direct result of Israeli authorities’ targeted destruction and systematic blockages of reconstruction materials—has triggered a surge in waterborne diseases, particularly diarrheal illnesses, since the first week of April 2025. Over the past two years, MSF teams have treated more than 78,000 cases of diarrhea, including over 24,000 cases since April this year. Many families are unable to acquire or safely prepare food, and limited access to clean water is worsening the situation.

In addition, MSF teams have observed a significant rise in respiratory tract infections since May—with an even sharper increase since mid-August—which are typically more common during the winter months. According to the Ministry of Health, acute respiratory infections now account for 67 percent of total morbidity. We have also seen an increase in skin diseases since mid-August, including scabies, lice, and other infectious and non-infectious conditions.

Pregnant women and people with amputations or disabilities are vulnerable

From October 2024 to September 2025, MSF teams at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis screened pregnant women for malnutrition, and 1,366 were diagnosed. Many mothers are also still struggling to safely feed their babies. Some women are so malnourished that they are unable to produce enough breast milk, while ready-to-use infant formula is in short supply. Finding clean water and sterile materials to prepare formula is nearly impossible, and even boiling water has become a challenge, as most families lack access to cooking gas and resort to burning scarce and expensive wood. 

The harsh conditions are also compromising recovery for the many Palestinians suffering from traumatic injuries. The lack of mobility aids, such as crutches and wheelchairs, makes it extremely difficult for the thousands of people with amputations or disabilities to move around tents, access latrines, or reach clinics.

“We see many people with large open wounds, burns, or external fixators who are living in tents without proper hygiene, waste management, or climate control,” says Nadimpalli. “Infections that would normally be preventable are now common, leading to worsening health conditions and repeated hospitalizations.”

Palestinians’ suffering and vulnerability to the elements must be urgently addressed. The Israeli authorities must immediately allow a massive scale-up of unimpeded humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza.