oPt: Gaza’s public health crisis deepens as rodent infestations, sewage overflow and soaring heat threaten civilians

Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: International Rescue Committee Amman, Jordan, May 21, 2026 — Gaza continues to face a severe and unaddressed public health crisis, with collapsed sanitation systems, extreme overcrowding, and widespread rodent and insect infestations exposing civilians to disease and further suffering amid soaring temperatures, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns. In displacement camps and overcrowded shelters, families are reporting rising cases of skin diseases, lice infestations, and heat-related illnesses, while poor waste management, sewage overflow and rodent infestations are creating dangerous environmental conditions. Rodent-borne diseases, including hantavirus, pose a significant risk and require urgent prevention and surveillance measures. The crisis is being compounded by shortages of lubricant oil which has been prevented from entering Gaza. This is resulting in an inability to operate water and sanitation systems, resulting in increasing sewage overflow and the further breakdown of already overwhelmed infrastructure. Scott Lea, IRC’s Interim Country Director for the occupied Palestinian territory, said: “People that the IRC and our partners support continue to tell us about the devastating living conditions inside displacement camps. Families describe severe rodent and insect infestations, unbearable heat inside damaged tents, and a lack of shaded communal spaces, leaving children suffering from dehydration, skin irritation, and heat exhaustion. Many caregivers say children remain confined to unsafe shelters because there are no safe spaces to play and families fear for their safety outside. “People are telling us they feel stripped of dignity, safety, and hope. Women and mothers are trying to care for their families in impossible conditions, while sewage overflows an...

Original source: Relief Web