DaysofPal- Displaced people across the Gaza Strip face new hardships as the second winter of Israeli genocide arrives, whereas displacement tents offer no protection from the bitter coldness and relentless rain.
Winter deepens the tragedies of Gaza’s displaced, compounding the suffering caused by the Israeli war that has continued for 415 consecutive days.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people endured another night of suffering and tragedy as the cold and rain took their toll where rainwater seeped into their tents, soaking blankets and scarce food supplies, leaving them helpless.
One displaced woman cried out, ‘We cannot sleep or even sit inside the tent because it’s flooded. The blankets and food are soaked, and the children are suffering from the severe coldness.”
The tents of displaced people were flooded, while others were uprooted by strong winds, damaging the few belongings they had managed to gather under the harsh conditions of displacement.
The Civil Defense reported on Sunday that tents housing thousands of displaced people in various parts of the Gaza Strip were severely damaged as rainwater inundated them, destroying their bedding and belongings.
In a statement, it was explained that the damage to the tents of displaced people was concentrated in several locations, including the Yarmouk Stadium shelter camp, the Gaza Municipality Park, the Beach Camp area, and tents set up in some schools, as well as in central and southern parts of the Strip.
The Civil Defense issued a strong warning that the displaced people face significant risks if low-lying areas are flooded with rainwater, especially given the blockage of sewage channels caused by the destruction of infrastructure by the Israeli occupation forces across the Gaza Strip.
He expressed deep concerns over the potential collapse of homes and buildings housing displaced citizens, noting that many are unfit for habitation and at serious risk of collapse due to prior exposure to Israeli bombing.
Addressing the world and international organizations, he added, ‘The tents of the displaced were damaged after just a brief, light rainfall. What will happen if they are subjected to heavy and continuous rain?
The Civil Defense appealed to the international humanitarian community and the United Nations to urgently act to save the lives of displaced Palestinians in Gaza’s camps before it is too late.
They called for immediate assistance, including providing tents and shelter caravans, to mitigate the hardships of winter.
The Government Media Office previously confirmed that 74% of the tents housing the displaced are now unusable, according to assessments conducted by government field teams.
It highlighted that the number of displaced people continues to grow daily, with the total number now rising from 1.9 million to 2 million across the Gaza Strip governorates.
Municipalities throughout the Gaza Strip have previously issued warnings to displaced people in various areas, emphasizing the dangers to their lives as winter approaches and low-pressure systems bring worsening conditions.
The number of displaced persons across the Gaza Strip has ranged from 1.9 million to 2 million.
What has further exacerbated the suffering and dangers faced by the displaced is the destruction of over 175,000 meters of sewage networks and 15,000 meters of rainwater drainage systems by the Israeli occupation forces during ongoing bombing operations, along with the bulldozing of streets.
Although municipalities are making efforts to mitigate the damage caused by rain and to drain accumulated water, their ability to respond is severely limited by a lack of equipment, 80% of which has been destroyed.
Last September, as fall began, the Government Media Office issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to save 2 million displaced persons in the Gaza Strip.
The call came ahead of the arrival of air depressions and the harsh weather conditions of winter, warning of the dire risks if immediate action was not taken.
Municipalities across the Gaza Strip previously issued warnings to displaced persons in various areas of the city about the dangers to their lives with the arrival of winter and the looming air depressions.
As winter sets in, the need for humanitarian aid to shield displaced people from the coldness and rain has become increasingly urgent.
This comes amid international appeals for the swift delivery of assistance, while the meteorological department warns of heavy rains expected to impact the region during the winter months.
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