Displacement tents in Gaza are breeding grounds for insects and diseases

In a scene reflecting the depth of environmental and health deterioration in the Gaza Strip, reports from Deir al-Balah, conveying a disturbing picture from inside displacement camps. The insect and rodent infestation crisis is worsening, causing widespread skin diseases and itching among the displaced, and raising fears of disease outbreaks.

One resident says that the daily suffering has become unbearable, pointing out that the lack of sewage systems and the stagnant water around the tents have turned the area into a polluted environment.

Abu Amra explains that these conditions have turned the camps into breeding grounds for insects and rodents, exacerbating health risks, especially for children who already suffer from malnutrition and inadequate medical care.

In another testimony, a displaced woman confirms that life inside the camps has become a constant ordeal with insects, saying, “Flies, cockroaches, and mosquitoes are everywhere… and even rats are preventing us from sleeping. A child was bitten inside one of the tents,” indicating the extent of the threat facing the residents.

For his part, Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, says that hospitals are receiving increasing numbers of patients suffering from skin diseases, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections. He emphasized that these conditions create an ideal environment for the spread of diseases, stressing the urgent need to introduce pesticides to combat the rampant rodent population.

He noted the growing calls for immediate intervention from relevant authorities and international organizations to provide pesticides and hygiene supplies and curb the spread of insects and rodents before the situation deteriorates into a widespread health catastrophe in the displacement camps.