DaysofPal — Civil defense officials in the Gaza Strip have issued an urgent warning about the dangers posed by plunging temperatures, particularly for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in makeshift shelters.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, called on residents to exercise extreme caution as a wave of bitter cold grips the enclave, stressing the need to closely monitor children and other vulnerable groups.
Basal highlighted the heightened danger facing families residing in tents, where protection from freezing temperatures is minimal. He urged communities to take all possible precautions to safeguard those most at risk, including the elderly and the sick.
According to the Civil Defense statement, severe cold can lead to serious health complications and, in extreme cases, fatalities.
The warning comes amid a harsh winter season marked by repeated storms affecting Palestinian areas, with conditions particularly severe in Gaza. Heavy rains and strong winds have flooded vast tent encampments, worsening living conditions for displaced families.
Aid officials say tens of thousands of temporary shelters have been inundated, leaving residents exposed to cold, damp conditions that increase the risk of hypothermia and disease.
Civil defense authorities emphasized that protecting civilians during the cold spell is a shared responsibility, urging residents to remain vigilant and assist neighbors where possible.
The worsening weather has compounded an already dire humanitarian situation in the territory, where widespread displacement has forced large segments of the population into overcrowded camps with limited access to heating, dry clothing, or medical care.
Relief organizations warn that without urgent assistance, continued exposure to severe cold could lead to further casualties among Gaza’s most vulnerable residents in the coming weeks.
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