The UN on Wednesday warned of “major public health risks” facing civilians in the Gaza Strip, with rodent and ectoparasite infestations reported in 83% of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said during a news conference that “civilians in Gaza face major public health risks, adding to the insecurity and displacement.” “Access to water also remains a daily challenge for families,” he said, adding that the UN and its partners are supporting hundreds of thousands of children and their families with essential water, sanitation and hygiene services. Israel has continued its genocidal war in Gaza since Oct. 8, 2023. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 injured, most of them women and children.