Displaced residents in Gaza's overcrowded camps are grappling with a severe and escalating rodent infestation, posing a critical threat to public health and sanitation. The dire situation, exacerbated by extensive waste accumulation and compromised infrastructure, has led to reports of aggressive rodent behavior and widespread illness among vulnerable populations.
According to a recent tweet by Sameh Ahmed, rodents are "spreading extensively, especially around the tents of displaced people." Ahmed relayed an account from a resident whose child was reportedly bitten by a large rat, resulting in poisoning. The resident further claimed that these rodents attack people while they are asleep, attributing this aggression to a lack of food and their feeding on the bodies of victims that cannot be retrieved due to ongoing combat.
The unsanitary conditions across Gaza’s displacement sites provide an ideal breeding ground for these pests. Reports indicate that approximately 90,000 tons of waste have accumulated in the streets and around shelter centers in Gaza City alone, disrupting solid waste collection due to lack of fuel and damaged infrastructure. This creates an environment conducive to the rapid proliferation of insects and rodents, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The presence of large, aggressive rats is widely documented, with displaced Palestinians in camps like Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis reporting rodents destroying food supplies and clothing. UN agencies, including UNRWA, have initiated intensive clean-up operations and pest control measures, such as spraying pesticides in overcrowded areas, but the scale of the problem remains immense.
The health implications are severe, with a significant increase in infectious diseases. The collapse of water and sanitation services, coupled with limited access to clean toilets and safe water, has led to a surge in conditions like hepatitis A, scabies, lice, and diarrhea. The WHO reported over 152,000 cases of diarrhea in Gaza by late 2023, with more than half affecting children under five. Health officials warn of a "catastrophic health crisis" unfolding, as the already overwhelmed healthcare system struggles to cope with the influx of patients suffering from these preventable illnesses.