Gaza Faces Humanitarian Crisis as winter Rains Flood Displaced Families’ Shelters Following Israeli Bombings
Gaza Strip – Heavy winter rains are exacerbating teh dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,flooding the makeshift shelters of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians,according to the Gaza Strip Civil Defense. The worsening conditions come amidst widespread destruction following recent Israeli bombings across the territory, especially in the north and south, as reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
“Since dawn today, we have received hundreds of calls from displaced citizens whose homes and tents have been flooded by the rain,” stated Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal on Friday. The rescue service, operating under Hamas authority, reports widespread “distress” among families lacking adequate shelter.
The Gaza Strip, geographically situated between the Sinai and Negev Deserts and the Mediterranean Sea, experiences the majority of its annual rainfall during late autumn and winter.Many of the tents and hastily constructed shelters erected by displaced Gazans are ill-equipped to withstand the heavy precipitation, a situation compounded by restrictions on the entry of goods into the territory.
Civil Defense officials are urgently appealing to the international humanitarian community, specifically the guarantor countries of the ceasefire agreement, to address the suffering of approximately half a million displaced families. These families are currently living in camps and accommodation centers, enduring “very difficult humanitarian conditions” following the extensive Israeli aggression.
The Gaza Strip media office estimates the immediate need for at least 250,000 tents and 100,000 caravans to provide temporary shelter for the displaced population until reconstruction can begin. The office strongly condemns the “silence and international impotence” and urges the ceasefire guarantors to take “an active role” in providing assistance.
While a ceasefire since October 10th has offered some limited easing of restrictions,the scale of destruction remains immense. The United Nations reports that 92% of residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the recent conflict between israel and Hamas. Consequently, the current aid shipments arriving by truck are drastically insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs of the displaced population. WAFA reports ongoing Israeli bombings continue to impact both northern and southern regions of the Strip, further displacing civilians and hindering relief efforts.
