{"id":294715,"date":"2025-05-05T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=294715"},"modified":"2025-05-04T20:21:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T19:21:52","slug":"plague-of-rats-and-insects-provide-latest-challenge-for-war-shattered-gazans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/05\/plague-of-rats-and-insects-provide-latest-challenge-for-war-shattered-gazans\/","title":{"rendered":"Plague of Rats and Insects Provide Latest Challenge for War-Shattered Gazans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-date\"><span class=\"field-content\"><time class=\"datetime\" datetime=\"2025-04-29T12:00:00Z\">29 Apr 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/em><strong> \u2014<\/strong> After suffering almost 18 months of deadly bombardment, displacement and lack of access to basic services, the embattled people of Gaza face yet another challenge: the threat of insects and rodents.<\/p>\n<section class=\"region region-before-content\">\n<div id=\"block-views-block-story-photo-block-image\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-story-photo-block-image\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-story-photo view-id-story_photo view-display-id-block_image js-view-dom-id-7058d94e8d8c25b60a9165e88c03d34e61680ffa8fc324eb641a37b0cd42863b\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"node node--type-news-story node--view-mode-top-image-full-width clearfix\">\n<div class=\"story-media\">\n<div class=\"media-image\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-21x9 field field--name-field-news-story-photo field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Environmental health workers from UNRWA spray insecticides amongst shelters for displaced people. \" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Libraries\/Production%20Library\/28-04-2025-UNNews-UNRWA-Gaza-cleaningcampaign1.jpeg\/image1440x560cropped.jpg\" alt=\"Environmental health workers from UNRWA spray insecticides amongst shelters for displaced people. \" width=\"365\" height=\"199\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"story-caption full-width\">\n<div class=\"context-caption_credit type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-caption-credit\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>UN News | Environmental health workers from UNRWA spray insecticides amongst shelters for displaced people.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"main-wrapper\" class=\"layout-main-wrapper clearfix\">\n<div id=\"main-container\" class=\"container layout-main-container\">\n<div class=\"row row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left clearfix\">\n<div class=\"minimal-share-wrapper col-lg-3\">\n<p class=\"minimal-share\">One displaced woman told <em>UN News\u2019s<\/em> correspondent in Gaza:<strong>\u00a0\u201cIn all camps, we suffer from biting insects, especially fleas,\u201d<\/strong> adding that:<\/p>\n<p class=\"minimal-share\"><strong>\u201cour children suffer from severe pain due to itching and stinging.\u201c<\/strong> We tried to treat it in simple ways, but the right medicines are not available at the medical centre.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-1e205ecce071fb328ec10f285845770037de43fffabcb6326f5608d37f5f7030\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"_none\">\n<div class=\"w-100\">\n<div class=\"layout row layout-builder__layout\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>While biting insects found in Gaza are not immediately life-threatening, the presence of rodents, including rats, can increase the risk of the spread of infectious diseases which the health system in Gaza may be unable to treat.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Inadequate sanitation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The lack of adequate sanitation, including limited access to clean toilets, general overcrowding as people try to find places to live amongst the rubble of Gaza \u2013 and the challenges of removing rubbish from the streets \u2013 have\u00a0amplified the threat posed by rats.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Teams from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNRWA<\/a>, the UN agency which supports the people of Gaza, have initiated intensive clean-up operations as well as environmental and health awareness campaigns. The number of dermatology consultations in health facilities has also increased.<\/p>\n<p>UNRWA workers are actively moving through tents for displaced people in Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip spraying pesticides to counter the spread of insects, fleas and rodents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Uncollected trash in Gaza is encouraging rats.\" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/29-05-2024-UNRWA-Gaza-03.jpg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" alt=\"Uncollected trash in Gaza is encouraging rats.\" width=\"367\" height=\"166\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>\u00a9 UNRWA | Uncollected trash in Gaza is encouraging rats.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>UNRWA teams have worked in approximately 50 displacement sites in the Mawasi area of\u00a0\u200b\u200bKhan Younis.<\/p>\n<p>They have focused on locations where there is overcrowding, improper waste disposal, the presence of livestock and the lack of hygiene materials.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause of the intense heat and sleeping on the sand, we were exposed to biting insects, rodents, and mosquitoes,\u201d said one resident as he watched an UNRWA environmental health officer spraying insecticides around temporary shelters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"A doctor from UNRWA\u2019s Environmental Health team explains to mothers how to treat insect bites.\" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Libraries\/Production%20Library\/28-04-2025-UNNews-UNRWA-Gaza-cleaningcampaign.jpeg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" alt=\"A doctor from UNRWA\u2019s Environmental Health team explains to mothers how to treat insect bites.\" width=\"365\" height=\"165\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>UN News | A doctor from UNRWA\u2019s Environmental Health team explains to mothers how to treat insect bites.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Educational Sessions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In a nearby tent, a group of women gathered around awareness-raising instructors from the agency\u2019s Environmental Health Office for an educational session on how to guard against insects and rodents.<\/p>\n<p>The meetings target women, girls and adolescents to familiarize them with how to face this health challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Gaza continues to struggle since the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel precipitated the shattering conflict.<\/p>\n<p>No humanitarian aid or supplies have entered the Gaza Strip since 2 March 2025, due to Israel\u2019s total blockade.<\/p>\n<p>UNRWA says vital humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are almost exhausted.<\/p>\n<p>The agency warned that pesticide stocks are expected to run out within days in southern Gaza, while they have already run out in the central areas and north of the Strip.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/human-wrongs-watch.net\/2025\/04\/30\/plague-of-rats-and-insects-provide-latest-challenge-for-war-shattered-gazans\/\" >Go to Original &#8211; human-wrongs-watch.net<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>29 Apr 2025 \u2014 After suffering almost 18 months of deadly bombardment, displacement and lack of access to basic services, the embattled people of Gaza face yet another challenge: the threat of insects and rodents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":294716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[87,865,88,427,1898,70],"class_list":["post-294715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-palestine-israel-gaza-genocide","tag-gaza","tag-genocide","tag-israel","tag-palestine","tag-plague","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=294715"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294717,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294715\/revisions\/294717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=294715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=294715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=294715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}