A woman displaced in Gaza described to UN News correspondent the struggles faced in the refugee camps due to harsh conditions: “In all camps, we are tormented by biting insects, notably fleas. Our children are in severe pain from constant itching and stinging.”
She continued, “We have tried to treat it with simple methods, but the effective medication is not available at our medical center.”
Though the biting insects in Gaza do not pose an immediate risk to life, the presence of rodents, including rats, amplifies the risk of infectious disease spread, which could overwhelm Gaza’s underprepared health system.
Inadequate sanitation conditions, including limited access to clean restrooms, overcrowding among the rubble, and the challenge of waste removal, have heightened the rat infestation threat. The UNRWA, the UN agency aiding Gaza, has initiated cleanup actions and health awareness campaigns, resulting in increased dermatology consultations. UNRWA personnel spray pesticides in retreats for displaced individuals in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, to curb insect, flea, and rodent spread.
UNRWA teams have worked on about 50 displacement locations in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, focusing on overcrowding, waste disposal issues, livestock presence, and hygiene shortages. A local resident noted, “Due to the scorching heat and sand conditions, we are vulnerable to biting insects, rodents, and mosquitoes.”
UNRWA medical staff educate mothers on treating insect bites and conduct educational sessions for women, girls, and adolescents on preventing insects and rodents. This initiative aims to empower the community to tackle these public health challenges.
Gaza’s situation remains dire since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent conflict. As of March 2, 2025, no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza due to Israel’s complete embargo. UNRWA reports that essential humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid, and children’s vaccines, are nearly depleted.
Pesticide shortages are critical, with stocks expected to run out quickly in southern Gaza and already depleted in central areas and the northern region.
Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/04/1162726
