The World Health Organization reports a rise in respiratory illnesses in Gaza, warning that conditions will worsen as winter floods arrive.

What it means

The World Health Organization has warned that respiratory illnesses are surging across Gaza as winter floods hit the region, and that conditions will worsen. Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of shelters, compounding the health crisis in an area already strained by war and displacement. The WHO explicitly states that the worst is still to come.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solid: it originates from a formal WHO warning reported on 13 November 2026 by multiple reputable outlets (Reuters, The Straits Times, Al-Monitor) that all attribute the statement directly to the WHO. The reporting is close to the primary source, with no contradictory evidence in the search results.

How new

Genuinely new: the WHO warning and the associated news coverage are from 13 November 2026, with no indication of older material being resurfaced.

Go deeper

• The Straits Times — first to publish