As summer approaches, a serious environmental and health crisis is worsening in displacement camps in the Gaza Strip. The proliferation of rodents and insects poses a daily threat to the lives of thousands of families, already living in harsh conditions and suffering from a severe shortage of basic services.
The massive accumulation of waste, the lack of regular collection systems, and the spread of stagnant water and sewage near the tents have all contributed to creating an ideal breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes, and rats.
These conditions have transformed the displacement camps into open breeding grounds for disease, with a clear inability to control the situation.
Samer al-Khaldi says that the rodents are no longer just a passing nuisance, but have become a real danger threatening the safety of families, especially children.
He explains that they infiltrate sleeping and eating areas, damage belongings, and even attack children in their sleep, creating a constant state of fear within the tents.
Samer al-Khaldi says that the rodents are no longer just a passing nuisance, but have become a real danger threatening the safety of families, especially children. He explains that they infiltrate sleeping and eating areas, damage property, and may even attack children in their sleep, creating a constant state of terror within the tents.
For her part, Layla Abu Awda points out that life in the camps has become akin to “night watch,” where families are forced to stay awake to protect their children and food supplies from rodents. She emphasizes that the problem doesn’t stop at rats, but extends to insects that cause painful bites and irritating skin diseases.
