The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society estimates scabies affects about 80% of Palestinian male and female detainees in Israeli prisons, including children, and says treatment for infected prisoners has been limited. WAFA reported the Society’s statement Sunday, Nov. 8.
The Society said its legal teams visited dozens of detainees in October and early November. It also based the estimate on accounts from people released from custody.
The group identified inadequate clothing supplies for thousands of detainees as one contributor to the outbreak. It said infected prisoners received little effective medical care and that no efforts had been made to address the underlying causes.
The Society said raids on selected rooms recur every two or three days in some prison sections. It said raid frequency varies by prison, with intervals of no more than two weeks.
The group also described worsening shower conditions in some sections of Naqab prison after a major breakdown in the showers. It reported severe overcrowding in several major prisons.
