Across thousands of overcrowded tents in Gaza, displaced families face worsening hardship as soaring summer heat and rampant pests compound an already dire humanitarian crisis.
For many, the struggle is deeply personal. Mahmoud Hijazi, an injured Palestinian confined to a wheelchair, lives with his children and elderly mother in a worn-out tent that is barely big enough for them all.
"We suffer first and foremost from the extreme heat. Sometimes temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius. We suffer from insects during the day and rats at night. There isn't even any shade outside. Because of my health condition, I need a fan, but there is no electricity to run one," he said.
Across the camp, many parents say the heat is taking a heavy toll on their children. Azza Al-Hatto says her tent has become like an oven, and the lack of water and sanitation has contributed to the spread of skin diseases.
"We wake up because of the heat of the sun and the insects. At night, mosquitoes and rats spread everywhere. Our suffering is extremely difficult. We don't even have a place to find shade. We keep moving from one place to another to escape the heat, waiting for water so we can cool ourselves and our children," she said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and other aid organizations continue supporting displaced families, despite ongoing restrictions on aid deliveries and the challenges of bringing supplies safely into Gaza.
"Families in those tents are struggling right now with the heat. They also struggle with rodents and mosquitoes. People in Gaza strive for a normal life with reliable access to clean water, sanitation, health services and also the safe shelter," said Amani Al Naouq, ICRC spokeswoman in Gaza.
Displaced Gazans struggle with heatwave, pest infestation
