The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is deepening to unprecedented levels, with displacement camps becoming dangerous environments not only due to the bombing and blockade, but also because of a rodent infestation that poses a direct health risk to thousands of families. This is compounded by a sharp decline in environmental conditions and a complete lack of basic protection.
In one of the most shocking incidents, 68-year-old Inshirah Hajjaj awoke in her tent in the Arafat camp in Gaza City to find her feet bleeding profusely. She discovered that rats had gnawed at her toes while she slept, a fact she hadn’t noticed due to her diabetic foot condition.
Hajjaj, who cares for an elderly husband with cerebral atrophy, said, “We live with rats. They eat what we eat and sleep where we sleep… I fear I will wake up one day and find I have lost my entire foot.” This incident is not an isolated case, but rather part of a series of recurring incidents that reflect a tragic reality inside the tents, where secure doors and protective equipment are absent, and families share narrow spaces with rodents that are active at night, causing a constant state of fear and insecurity.
