Small, hungry animals are stalking the crowded tents of northern Gaza. Families living in makeshift camps report that rats and weasels emerge from the debris once the camp falls silent. These predators do not just scavenge for food scraps. They target the vulnerable, biting children and adults who are too exhausted to defend themselves.
The infestation has turned every night into a period of hyper-vigilance. Sleep now carries a physical risk.
The bite comes at night
A father, who refused to name his location for safety, described the terror of hearing scratching sounds against thin canvas walls during the night.
He said the animals climb through holes in the fabric. They chew through the fabric until they reach the sleeping bags. Children wake up with puncture wounds on their arms and legs. Adults guard the children with nothing more than a chair or a stick.
Health officials in the region warn of a looming surge in zoonotic diseases as the rodent population grows. Without immediate sanitation interventions and pest control, the biting incidents are likely to increase alongside the rising number of displaced persons.
No one is safe
Families in the camps continue to wait for any relief from the nocturnal raids. Some try to fill their stomachs before sleep to keep the pests away.
Others sleep with their shoes on their bedsides. They wear protective gloves to cover their hands. Nothing works completely. The rodents multiply where food and waste sit exposed.
The rats and weasels are hungry. They have no other choice but to enter the tents. They do not distinguish between old and young.
What happens next depends on relief efforts. Sanitation teams must arrive quickly. Families need protection before the winter cold sets in.
