With the ongoing humanitarian issues brought on by the Israeli war of genocide that destroyed their homes in recent months, the displaced people in the Gaza Strip are experiencing increasing levels of suffering.
In this regard, the Palestinian Civil Defence Directorate reported on Wednesday that thousands of displaced people were left “shivering from the cold” after heavy rains over the previous two days flooded over 1,542 tents, a situation that reflects the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
According to a statement from the Civil Defence Directorate, rainwater flooded hundreds of tents at depths greater than 30 centimetres, damaging the displaced people’s possessions and furniture.
242 tents in displacement camps in different locations, such as Yarmouk Stadium and Al-Saraya Complex, were reported to have flooded in Gaza City alone. Khan Yunis had the most damage, with 665 tents flooded and damaged.
The central governorate saw 210 tents flooded, with the majority of the damage occurring west of Deir al-Balah and Wadi al-Salqa.
Hundreds of other tents were also inundated with rainwater at levels below 30 centimetres, according to the Civil Defence, further burdening the already dire conditions of the residents.
Deaths and persistent dangers
In light of these conditions, the Gaza government media office reported that since the start of the current cold wave, seven people—six of them children—have died among the displaced.
According to the report, 81% of the tents that were used to house the displaced have deteriorated, leaving them more susceptible to illnesses and fatalities brought on by the freezing and lack of shelter.
This suffering coincides with the ongoing war of extermination that Israel has been waging on Gaza since October 2023, which has caused extensive infrastructure destruction and 154,000 deaths and injuries, the majority of whom are women and children.
In the face of international inaction and the UN’s failure to stop this humanitarian crisis, the occupation authorities continue to carry out their massacres with American assistance, even after two international arrest warrants were issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant.
In addition to working to achieve justice for the victims by enforcing international arrest warrants and holding those accountable for crimes committed against the Palestinians, the tragic conditions that the Gazan people are living in necessitate immediate action in order to protect children from the danger of death from the cold and lack of basic services, as well as to provide food and shelter for the displaced.
Given this ongoing tragedy, the people of Gaza are still fighting for their lives, and humanitarian problems are getting worse every day with no end in sight.
