CAIRO/GAZA: A growing health crisis is spreading across displacement camps in Gaza, where thousands of families are living in extreme conditions. Reports show rats and parasites are increasing in makeshift shelters and damaged areas.
The situation in Gaza has become more serious as over two million people remain displaced. Many families are staying in tents, ruins of buildings, and roadside shelters. These areas lack proper sanitation and safety.
Residents say rats are attacking belongings and spreading fear. In some cases, children have been bitten while sleeping. Families report losing essential items due to rodent damage.
In Khan Younis, a young woman named Amani Abu Selmi shared her distress. Just before her wedding, she discovered that rats had damaged her wedding clothes inside her tent. She described the loss as heartbreaking.
Another resident, Khalil Al-Mashharawi, said his young son was bitten by a rat. He also reported being attacked himself. Families in Gaza now sleep in shifts to protect each other.
He explained that rodent traps are not effective in the current conditions. People living in destroyed homes and tents are unable to control the infestation.
Health officials warn that the situation in Gaza may worsen during warmer months. Limited access to pest control supplies is also making the problem more difficult. Restrictions on essential materials have added to the crisis.
Doctors have reported increasing cases linked to rodent bites. Hospitals are treating children, elderly people, and sick patients affected by infections.
Medical experts are concerned about diseases such as leptospirosis and rat-bite fever. They warn that these illnesses could spread further if conditions do not improve.
Sanitation systems in Gaza have been heavily damaged. Waste collection has largely stopped, leading to polluted water and rising health risks in crowded shelters.
Humanitarian organizations say this has created a “collapsed living environment.” They believe it is ideal for rodents and parasites to spread quickly.
According to the World Health Organization, thousands of infection cases have already been recorded this year. Officials say the crisis is a direct result of deteriorating living conditions in Gaza.
In other news read more about Israeli Strikes Kill Five People in Gaza Despite Ongoing Ceasefire
Aid groups continue to call for urgent action to improve sanitation and health support in affected areas.
