Overview
- A UN rapid check of more than 1,600 displacement sites found rodents frequently visible in over 80% of locations, affecting about 1.45 million people.
- The World Health Organization reports roughly 17,000 rodent- and ectoparasite-related infections so far this year, and hospitals are recording daily bite-related admissions.
- Doctors warn of illnesses such as rat-bite fever and leptospirosis, and they expect conditions to worsen as summer heat speeds the spread of disease.
- Local officials link the surge to piles of uncollected trash, damaged sewage networks, and the loss of municipal vehicles that once moved waste and sprayed pests.
- Aid groups and municipal leaders say Israeli controls on items like rat poison and insecticides block an effective response, while families report failed traps, night bites, and ruined belongings.