The MoSD condemns the international community's inaction in allowing rodent control supplies into the Gaza Strip
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development has warned of a rapidly escalating health and environmental crisis in the Gaza Strip resulting from the unprecedented spread of rodents, including rats and other pests, in displacement camps and densely populated areas. The Ministry stressed that the situation poses a direct threat to the lives and safety of civilians, particularly children, older persons, women, persons with disabilities, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
The Ministry emphasized that the catastrophic humanitarian conditions facing Gaza’s population, coupled with the widespread destruction of infrastructure and essential services, have created an ideal environment for rodents to breed and spread extensively throughout displacement camps and shelters.
The Ministry explained that the destruction of nearly 80% of the waste collection vehicle fleet, combined with the accumulation of more than 350,000 tons of solid waste in streets and around displacement sites, as well as the destruction of sewage networks and the overflow of wastewater between tents, has significantly intensified environmental and public health risks.
The Ministry further noted that the continued presence of approximately 8,500 bodies trapped beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings, alongside millions of tons of debris scattered across the Gaza Strip, has contributed to creating fertile conditions for the rapid proliferation of rodents within residential areas and displacement camps, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and epidemics.
According to the Ministry, approximately 1.45 million people living across 1,326 displacement sites are directly exposed to rodent-related health risks, including more than 680,000 children who are living in conditions that lack even the most basic health and environmental protection measures.
The Ministry added that health and humanitarian reports indicate that more than 70,000 cases associated with rodents, pests, and related environmental conditions have been recorded since the beginning of the year. These include approximately 17,000 direct cases resulting from bites, infections, and skin diseases, while children account for nearly 80% of all reported rodent-bite victims.
The Ministry pointed to field reports from Gaza documenting incidents in which children, infants, women, and older persons were directly attacked by rodents while sleeping inside tents and shelters, highlighting the severity of the threat facing the most vulnerable groups in society.
The Ministry stressed that the impact of rodents extends beyond health risks. Rodents are also damaging and tearing tents, contaminating food supplies and humanitarian aid, penetrating flour sacks and food packages, and destroying the limited personal belongings on which displaced families rely for their daily survival, thereby worsening food insecurity and living conditions.
The Ministry noted that municipalities and local authorities face significant challenges in addressing the problem due to severe shortages of equipment, machinery, and pest-control materials, as well as the lack of access to effective pesticides and rodenticides because of restrictions on their entry into Gaza. This has greatly limited the ability of relevant authorities to contain the spread of rodents and pests.
The Ministry warned that the continuation of these conditions, coupled with rising temperatures during the summer season, could lead to outbreaks of serious rodent-borne diseases, including Rat-Bite Fever, Leptospirosis, and a range of bacterial, viral, and skin infections, particularly in light of the severe collapse of the healthcare system and the acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
The Ministry renewed its call on the United Nations, international and humanitarian organizations, and donor partners to take urgent action to support humanitarian and environmental interventions in Gaza, including the provision of pest-control supplies, support for municipalities in removing waste and debris, rehabilitation of sewage systems, and the delivery of essential equipment and materials needed to protect civilians from escalating health risks.
The Ministry stressed that the situation in Gaza has evolved beyond an environmental or service-related crisis and has become a major public health and humanitarian disaster threatening the lives of more than 1.4 million people. It called for immediate international intervention to prevent further deterioration and to protect civilians—particularly children, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities—from expanding health and epidemic risks.
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Department of Refugee Affairs Presents Its Annual Report to the MoSD and Reaffirms the Importance of Partnership in Strengthening the Resilience of Palestinian Refugees
Ramallah – The Department of Refugee Affairs of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) presented its Annual Report to the Ministry of Social Development during a meeting held at the Ministry’s headquarters. The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two institutions and to enhance mechanisms for responding to the humanitarian and social needs of Palestinian refugee camps. Representing the Ministry of Social Development were Mr. Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Family Care and Protection, and Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning. Representing the Department of Refugee Affairs were Mr. Ahmad Khallah, Advisor to the Department, Ms. Azhar Al-Khalili, and Ms. Serena Arrar from the General Directorate of Projects. The delegation conveyed the greetings of Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, and the Department’s Deputy Head, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and enhancing cooperation among Palestinian national institutions in support of Palestinian refugees and their resilience under the exceptional circumstances facing the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Department’s delegation presented the key findings of its Annual Report, which documents the situation in Palestinian refugee camps, the challenges they face, and the Department’s principal achievements over the past year. The report also highlights the humanitarian and development interventions implemented in refugee camps and Palestinian communities, as well as the partnerships established with national institutions and international donors to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian refugees and improve the quality of services provided to them. The meeting also explored opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in responding to the needs of displaced families in the northern West Bank and improving coordination in the areas of social protection, social care, and humanitarian relief, with the aim of ensuring a more coordinated and effective national response for affected households. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close coordination, exchanging expertise and information, and building on the existing partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Refugee Affairs. They stressed that strengthening cooperation among national institutions is essential for addressing humanitarian and social challenges and enhancing the resilience of Palestinian refugees while improving the services provided to them.
MoSD Holds Consultative Workshop to Develop the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development today held a consultative workshop to present and discuss the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Manual under the Social Development Enhancement Project, implemented in partnership with the World Bank. The workshop brought together representatives of the General Union of Persons with Disabilities, the Advisory Board for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations, and civil society organizations working in the field of human rights. The workshop forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen a more efficient and inclusive grievance redress system that enhances service quality and promotes the principles of transparency and accountability. The workshop was opened by Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that strengthening the grievance redress system requires effective coordination and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders. He described the system as one of the key instruments for improving service quality and enhancing responsiveness to citizens' needs. He explained that the workshop aims to discuss the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual and its procedures through a participatory approach to develop practical, confidential, transparent, and effective processes, with particular attention to sensitive complaints, including those related to gender-based violence (GBV), thereby strengthening public confidence in the grievance mechanism and improving its effectiveness. Mr. Mohammad Rashid Khaled, Head of the Complaints Unit at the Ministry of Social Development, presented an overview of the Ministry’s existing grievance redress system, including the procedures for receiving, processing, and resolving complaints. He emphasized the importance of continuously improving these procedures and expanding access channels for all population groups to ensure timely responses, high-quality complaint resolution, strengthened good governance, and improved public service delivery. For her part, Ms. Kifah Rajoub, Environmental and Social Specialist at the World Bank, presented the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, explaining that the workshop is part of a broader consultative process aimed at gathering feedback from partners and relevant stakeholders before the Manual is finalized. She noted that this process seeks to strengthen complaint intake channels and grievance handling procedures in line with international good practices. Ms. Rajoub also presented the key components of the Social Development Enhancement Project, which aims to build a more resilient social protection system capable of responding to shocks and crises by strengthening social services for poor and marginalized households, enhancing the Social Registry and Case Management System, building the capacities of Ministry staff in the directorates, and developing a flexible emergency response mechanism in collaboration with partners. The workshop further reviewed the core principles of the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, with particular emphasis on ensuring that complaint channels are accessible to all groups, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons, while establishing clear, fair, and transparent grievance handling procedures that reinforce integrity, accountability, and transparency in project implementation. The workshop concluded with an extensive technical discussion among participants representing various institutions and professional backgrounds. Participants reviewed the draft Manual, shared technical observations and recommendations for its improvement, and emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination and consultation among all partners to finalize a comprehensive Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual that strengthens the effectiveness and credibility of the Ministry’s grievance redress system.
