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Published on 15/07/2025 - 9:34 GMT+2
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A severe heatwave is gripping Gaza, compounding the humanitarian crisis for more than 1.7 million displaced Palestinians already facing acute shortages of medical care, food and basic supplies after months of the Israel-Hamas war.
Medical workers say soaring temperatures are worsening the condition of patients sheltering in overcrowded tent camps, where access to treatment is limited and many lack relief from the heat.
The situation is particularly dire for thousands of people requiring ongoing care for burns and other serious injuries.
Mohammed al-Mamlouka, who was injured earlier in the conflict, says each treatment session becomes a painful ordeal as medical teams deal with a shortage of painkillers and medical supplies.
“The pain from the summer heat is unbearable. If it was the winter I would not feel the pain, I could just sleep after taking my medication. Now I need a higher dose, but the hospitals don’t have it,” he said.
“It’s a really tough situation. We don’t even have a fan. We are suffering from a lack of care in this tent, it’s no place for a patient.”
Ahmad Awad, another displaced person recovering from surgery on a severe foot injury, said healing feels impossible.
“I feel extreme heat in my feet, sometimes I scratch them to the point of tearing my skin just to relieve the pain,” he said, “The tent is incredibly hot, and as you can see, it barely fits me and my children.”
Medical staff say the heat is hampering recovery for many patients, particularly those with burn injuries, which would require months of care under proper clinical conditions.
“The summer heat delays burn healing, as the temperature worsens the injuries. We advise patients to avoid heat sources, but inside tents that’s impossible,” said Dr Haya Salman.
“The heat and humidity cause sweat, that accelerates bacterial growth which delays recovery. We’re doing our best with what we have, but with the border closures, many essential tools are simply unavailable.”
Doctors say that survival rates for patients with burns covering 70% of their body can exceed 50%, but that this figure has fallen further during the war. They cite the lack of specialised operating rooms, limited access to skin grafts and the need to ration care amid mounting casualties.
The scorching summer coincides with a lack of clean water for the majority of Gaza’s population, most of whom live displaced in tented communities. Many Palestinians in the enclave must walk long distances to fetch water and ration each drop.
Israel had blocked food, fuel, medicine and all other supplies from entering Gaza for nearly three months before it began allowing limited aid to enter the Strip in May in what it said was an attempt to prevent Hamas militants from war profiteering and strengthening the group.
