A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE FIVE MAJOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS AMONG DISPLACED POPULATIONS DURING THE GAZA CONFLICT (2023–2024)

Displaced populations are highly vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks due to overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, limited access to necessities, and weakened healthcare systems. This study examines the five most critical infectious diseases affecting displaced individuals during the Gaza conflict, highlighting their causes, transmission routes, and impacts. Infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, spread through direct contact, contaminated food or water, and vectors such as insects. Diseases such as cholera, dysentery, malaria, COVID-19, and typhus pose substantial health risks, contributing to high mortality, long-term disabilities, and rapid community-wide transmission. The analysis draws on available statistics, peer-reviewed studies, and reputable health reports to provide a concise overview of each disease and its epidemiological patterns. Findings indicate that underlying social, environmental, and occupational factors—including poverty, inadequate hygiene, and poor infrastructure—exacerbate disease spread and burden healthcare systems. Effective prevention and control require strengthening healthcare delivery, improving sanitation and hygiene practices, enhancing disease surveillance, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. This review underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality among displaced populations