DaysofPal – Gaza’s Civil Defense has warned that displacement tents are no longer a viable humanitarian solution, as a series of powerful winter low-pressure systems batter the Strip, leaving dozens dead and widespread destruction in their wake.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, said the tents sheltering displaced families have proven a complete failure, offering no protection from the cold or heavy rainfall and collapsing under the harsh weather conditions. He stressed that tents can no longer be considered a humane response to the crisis facing Gaza’s population.
In a statement issued on Monday, Basal called for the immediate launch of reconstruction efforts and the provision of safe, dignified housing that preserves the lives and basic rights of Palestinians.
Since the recent weather systems began, eighteen residential buildings have completely collapsed, resulting in significant material and human losses, according to the Civil Defense.
Basal said the storms have resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including six children who died from extreme cold. Building collapses and incidents involving wells and rainwater collection ponds resulted in additional deaths.
He added that more than 110 residential buildings have suffered dangerous partial collapses, posing a direct threat to the lives of thousands of residents living inside or nearby these structures.
The situation for displaced families has grown increasingly dire. Basal reported that over 90 percent of displacement tents were either blown away or flooded due to strong winds and torrential rains, underscoring the scale of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
Tents across all areas of the Gaza Strip have been damaged or submerged, leaving thousands of families without even a temporary shelter. The flooding has destroyed clothing, mattresses, and blankets, further compounding the already unprecedented levels of human suffering.
Civil Defense teams have been overwhelmed by the scale of the emergency. Basal said crews have received more than 700 distress calls since the beginning of the current low-pressure system, ranging from rescuing people trapped by floodwaters to responding to structural collapses and severe damage.
Renewing his urgent appeal, Basal called on the international community to take immediate and serious action to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and meet urgent needs, warning that without swift intervention, the catastrophe in Gaza will continue to escalate.
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