Ramallah, April 03 (QNA) - Palestinian Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan has warned of escalating public health risks in Gaza due to a surge in rodent infestations amid worsening environmental conditions.

In a statement issued on Friday, he said widespread destruction, combined with the accumulation of untreated waste and debris, had created an ideal environment for rats and mice to thrive. This, he cautioned, increases the risk of disease transmission both directly through bites and indirectly via contamination and parasites such as fleas and ticks.

Among the diseases of concern are plague and salmonella, alongside other infections commonly linked to rodents.

Abu Ramadan urged the World Health Organization and international health bodies to intervene urgently by supplying pest control materials and strengthening prevention measures. He highlighted that more than one million Palestinians are currently living in highly vulnerable conditions, including tents or in the open, heightening their exposure to such risks.

He also drew attention to the deteriorating health of children, noting thousands of cases of permanent disability resulting from the war, as well as growing levels of malnutrition, which further increase susceptibility to disease and mortality rates.

The minister stressed that infants and children face particularly severe environmental and health threats, renewing calls for the international community to take immediate action to improve living conditions and ensure access to essential healthcare. (QNA)