Gazas Displaced Face Infestation and Uncertainty in Their New Homes

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Approximately 4,000 Palestinians reside in the al-Taawun camp, located between Yarmouk Stadium and al-Sahaba Street in central Gaza City. The camp is situated atop an enormous solid waste dump, with residents forced to set up makeshift shelters directly on top of or adjacent to the trash.

According to Fayez al-Jadi, a father who has been displaced 12 times since the war began, the conditions are causing significant health issues. “The rats eat the tents from underneath,” he stated. “They walk on our faces while we sleep.” Al-Jadi’s daughter, aged 18 months, suffers from gastroenteritis and malnutrition due to the unsanitary environment.

A sanitary crisis has led to a surge in skin infections among the camp’s residents, with scabies spreading rapidly. Fares Jamal Sobh, a six-month-old infant, experiences severe itching and discomfort due to the presence of cockroaches and mosquitoes. His mother reported that medicine is ineffective against the infestation.

Um Hamza, a grandmother caring for an extended family, including a blind husband and a son suffering from asthma, stated that shame has diminished their concerns about the situation. “We’ve stopped being ashamed to say my daughter is covered in scabies,” she said.

The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system has left residents without access to proper medical care. Hamada Abu Laila, a university lecturer who helps administer the camp, warned of an “environmental catastrophe” exacerbated by the lack of sewage networks and drinking water across Gaza City.

Husni Muhanna, spokesperson for the Gaza Municipality, attributed the crisis to Israeli forces blocking access to the Gaza Strip’s main landfill. This has led to the creation of hazardous temporary dumps in populated areas, resulting in a significant accumulation of solid waste. The municipality is struggling to manage waste according to health standards due to various obstacles, including destroyed machinery and fuel shortages.

Residents are also facing dangers from unexploded ordnance, with Rizq Abu Laila living next to an unexploded tank shell amidst the rubbish. His daughter, Shahd, is terrified of wild dogs that roam the dump at night.

Source: Al Jazeera