Volunteers Spray Pesticides in Gaza's Al-Bureij Camp to Combat Rodents

Volunteers in central Gaza's Al-Bureij refugee camp launched a pesticide spraying campaign on Friday to combat a growing infestation of rodents and insects, as health authorities warn of a sharp rise in infectious diseases across the besieged enclave. The grassroots effort, organized by local community workers and youth volunteers, targeted alleyways, communal shelters, and areas surrounding displacement tents where waste has accumulated due to the collapse of municipal services.

The campaign comes as Gaza's health sector teeters on the brink of total collapse after more than two years of devastating Israeli military operations that have destroyed sanitation infrastructure, water networks, and waste management systems. Volunteers were seen carrying handheld sprayers through the densely populated camp, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in makeshift shelters with little access to clean water or proper hygiene facilities.

The Gaza Health Ministry has repeatedly warned that the proliferation of rodents, flies, and mosquitoes is fueling outbreaks of hepatitis A, skin infections, respiratory illnesses, and gastrointestinal diseases, particularly among children. Medical officials say the lack of functioning sewage systems and the accumulation of solid waste have created ideal breeding grounds for disease vectors, with pesticides and basic cleaning supplies in critically short supply due to the ongoing blockade on aid deliveries.

Al-Bureij, one of eight historic refugee camps established after the 1948 Nakba, has been particularly hard hit by the humanitarian crisis. The camp's population has swelled with internally displaced families fleeing bombardment in northern and southern Gaza, placing unbearable strain on already overwhelmed infrastructure. Residents told local media that the volunteer initiative was launched after community appeals to international aid agencies went largely unanswered.

Qatar has remained one of the leading donors of humanitarian assistance to Gaza throughout the conflict, with the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent delivering medical aid, food parcels, and reconstruction support through coordinated channels. Doha has also played a central mediating role in ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, working alongside Egypt and the United States to broker hostage releases and pause hostilities.

The World Health Organization has classified Gaza's public health situation as catastrophic, citing the spread of communicable diseases, malnutrition, and the near-total collapse of the territory's healthcare system. International aid groups have called for the immediate and unfettered delivery of medical supplies, fuel, and sanitation equipment, warning that without urgent intervention, preventable disease outbreaks could claim thousands more Palestinian lives in the coming months. Local volunteers in Al-Bureij say their efforts, while limited in scope, represent a desperate attempt to protect their community in the absence of meaningful international action.