UN: Gaza faces mass displacement and public-health risks; pest-control campaign to start

Spokesperson Farhan cited Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Kiari, saying conditions in Gaza are a catastrophe of grave proportions and that more than 85% of Gaza's population has been displaced, many repeatedly. Farhan also reported that UN teams documented forced displacements from eastern Dbala and said displaced families reported receiving phone calls from individuals identifying themselves as Israeli forces.

On public-health measures, Farhan said the UN had brought pesticides into Gaza to address growing insect and environmental hazards and that a pest-control campaign is set to start next week, prioritizing areas where waste has accumulated near residential areas, food storage facilities and public markets. He warned that to mount a more complete response, Israeli authorities must allow the entry of rubble-removal and explosive-ordnance-clearance equipment and facilitate access to Gaza's sanitary landfills.

Why it matters: Mass displacement and inadequate waste management can accelerate disease risk and worsen an already dire humanitarian situation; the UN's pest-control activity aims to mitigate immediate public-health threats but depends on widened access.

Supporting details: The Spokesperson said UN teams have relied so far on small quantities of locally procured agents and that the new campaign will prioritize highest-risk areas. He also reiterated the need for predictable humanitarian access to scale up interventions.

Next steps: The UN plans to start the pest-control campaign and continues to press for the equipment and clearances needed to expand operations and protect displaced civilians.