A severe winter storm is hitting Gaza, leaving displaced Palestinians struggling to survive. Temperatures can drop as low as 50°F (10°C) in some areas, accompanied by wind and rain.
Alaa Al-Shawish, a mother of two living in a makeshift tent in Deir Al-Balah, fears for her family’s safety. “We’re dying from the cold,” she says. At least five babies have died due to hypothermia, with more expected to die in the coming days.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported several deaths, including a 2-year-old and a nurse who froze to death in his tent. The harsh weather has also flooded makeshift tents, with over 1,500 damaged by heavy rainfall.
The Gaza Civil Defense received hundreds of distress calls from displaced families whose homes were inundated with rainwater. Hundreds more tents were damaged, leaving people without shelter.
The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has called for Israel to allow the entry of more winter supplies into Gaza. “Blankets, mattresses and warm clothes are sitting outside Gaza waiting for approval to get in,” the agency said.
Only 1,290 humanitarian aid trucks entered the strip last week, significantly below pre-war average daily shipments. This is exacerbating the already dire situation in Gaza.
As the cold weather continues, Palestinians are struggling to stay warm and find basic necessities like food, water, and shelter.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/dying-cold-displaced-palestinians-battle-004348580.html