Gaza rodent infestation crisis

In late July 2026 Gaza’s civil defence authority reported a dramatic reduction in operational capacity, falling to about 25% after many fire‑rescue vehicles were destroyed or rendered inoperable and spare‑part shortages prevented repairs. More than 140 civil‑defence personnel had been killed, leaving the agency unable to reach many homes and displaced‑person camps. The authority warned that a surge of rodents and insects was spreading through residential areas and camps, and the Gaza mayor called for roughly 100 tons of pesticide, bait and related supplies, along with waste‑removal projects and heavy vehicles promised under a ceasefire agreement.

A week later the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that 83% of the displaced‑person sites in Gaza were infested with rodents and external parasites, creating a severe health risk amid ongoing siege conditions and damaged sanitation infrastructure. UN officials said daily deliveries of nine tons of rodenticides were being made but emphasized that continued access to equipment and supplies remained critical. The humanitarian emergency was linked by some experts to broader global health inequities, highlighting the need for systemic health solutions in conflict zones.