DaysofPal- Gaza’s civil defense service has reported that the displaced families living in the war-ravaged coastal enclave are facing worsening living conditions as cold and rainy weather sweeps through the region.
According to the civil defense, approximately 1,542 tents in displacement camps have been submerged by rainwater, reaching nearly half a meter in height. These tents are no longer habitable, further exacerbating the already dire situation for those seeking refuge.
On Tuesday, the civil defense issued a statement highlighting the difficulties faced by the displaced families. Rescue teams assessed hundreds of tents, many of which were under more than 30 centimeters of water. It was revealed that numerous displaced individuals were struggling to stay warm, with their clothes and belongings soaked through by the rain.
The situation is particularly grim for those in areas such as Deir al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Gaza City, where families spent a sleepless night as their tents were either engulfed by floodwaters or destroyed by strong winds.
Local health authorities reported that at least seven people, including six babies, tragically died from the cold over the weekend. The freezing winter temperatures have taken a devastating toll on the vulnerable population, who are already grappling with the horrors of the ongoing conflict.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) confirmed in a related statement on Tuesday that the heavy rainfall had severely damaged Gaza’s already precarious infrastructure. Over 100 tents in Khan Yunis, located in the southern part of the enclave, were flooded, worsening the living conditions of displaced families.
UNRWA emphasized that approximately 500 families still reside along the Gaza shoreline, an area particularly susceptible to the impacts of the rainstorm. For these displaced individuals, the challenges of survival have intensified as they are now battling not only the aftermath of war but also the brutal winter weather.
The organization called for urgent and continuous humanitarian assistance to help displaced families survive the harsh winter conditions. As the region faces both a humanitarian and climatic crisis, the need for sustained support and resources has never been more critical to helping the people of Gaza endure this difficult period.
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