Gaza's displaced families battle rats and squalor after ceasefire
Living conditions in Gaza have sharply deteriorated since the October 2021 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Displaced families now face severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and a growing rat infestation. Both sides continue to report casualties, with Palestinian health officials recording hundreds of deaths since the truce. A video released by the UN on May 15 shows displaced residents in Gaza City describing rats swarming their tents. Fadi Jundiya, one of those affected, called the situation 'abnormal,' explaining that children refuse to leave shelters after dark for fear of being bitten. His account matches reports from other families, including Areej Musbah, a mother who finds rat droppings in her tent each morning.
Children have already suffered injuries from the rodents. Mohammad Talal’s child was hospitalised after being scratched, while others complain of bites and contaminated food. The collapse of sewage systems, limited clean water, and overcrowded shelters have worsened the crisis.
In response, teams from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency are now cleaning shelters and running sanitation campaigns. Yet, with displaced Palestinians still living in tents, damaged buildings, and makeshift shelters, the risk of disease outbreaks remains high. The ceasefire has done little to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Rat infestations, unsafe living conditions, and ongoing violence continue to threaten displaced families. Aid efforts are underway, but long-term solutions have yet to materialise.
