The humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip is worsening with the return of severe cold waves, amid the ongoing Israeli assault and blockade, widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the forced displacement of more than 1.5 million Palestinians into displacement camps that lack even the most basic necessities of life.
As weather conditions deteriorate, the number of victims continues to rise, particularly among children and the elderly, amid a complete inability to provide protection or heating.
Sources in Gaza hospitals reported the deaths of six people, including two children, due to the cold wave that has struck the enclave since dawn on Tuesday.
The Government Media Office in Gaza warned on Tuesday of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the renewed severe cold waves hitting the territory, amid the ongoing genocide and suffocating siege, which have resulted in widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure and the forced displacement of more than 1.5 million Palestinians into camps lacking the minimum standards of human life.
In a statement, the office said that the number of deaths caused by extreme cold since the start of winter has risen to seven children, while the total death toll has reached 24 people due to house collapses and the destruction of 7,000 tents over the past two days.
The statement added that just two days of the current weather depression led to the collapse and displacement of around 7,000 tents due to strong winds and severe conditions.
This, it said, reflects an extremely dangerous escalation of the humanitarian disaster threatening the lives of the most vulnerable groups, especially given the near-total absence of heating, lack of safe shelter, and acute shortages of blankets and winter clothing, alongside continued restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid in sufficient quantities.
The Government Media Office noted that it had previously issued strong warnings about the consequences of this weather system and upcoming cold waves, which are likely to increase the number of victims, particularly among children, patients, and the elderly, if the current catastrophic humanitarian conditions persist without urgent intervention.
The office held the Israeli occupation fully and directly responsible for these crimes and deadly consequences, describing them as an extension of policies of slow killing, starvation, and forced displacement. It called on the international community, the United Nations, and humanitarian and human rights organizations to take immediate action to provide safe shelters and allow the unrestricted entry of heating and relief supplies to save what remains of lives before it is too late.
The Director of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory said that strong winds are uprooting many displacement tents across the Gaza Strip, stressing the importance of moving to the second phase of the Gaza agreement.
He added that the international community has completely failed to deal with the humanitarian situation in Gaza, noting that the Office has repeatedly urged major powers to pressure Israel. Aid is available, he said, but the occupation is preventing its entry, while Israeli attacks on Gaza’s population continue unabated.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense said that its crews are unable to do anything to assist citizens suffering from extreme cold due to limited resources.
He explained that Gaza does not need internal solutions, but rather an international one, stressing the need to move to the second phase of the Gaza agreement and begin the reconstruction process.
The Mayor of Gaza City called for allowing the entry of construction materials to help residents repair their homes and create livable spaces, stressing that children in the Gaza Strip are living in tragic conditions amid the cold wave and limited resources and aid.
He added that there are many buildings at risk of collapse, and that the municipality lacks the capacity to neutralize these dangers. Residents, he said, are crammed into rooms and tents, and those who fall ill may not find medicine. He called on free people around the world to take action and reject Israel’s policies toward Gaza’s population.
The head of the Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza said that the current situation is the worst since the onset of the weather depressions, noting that around 10,000 families living along Gaza’s coastline have seen their tents flooded or blown away by the storm.
He accused the Israeli occupation of misleading public opinion regarding the number of aid trucks entering Gaza, preventing the entry of medical supplies and shelter materials, and obstructing the work of international organizations—posing a direct threat to the lives of the population.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=71247
