A severe rainstorm has worsened the already dire living conditions for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, leaving children “freezing and hungry”. At least 100 tents were damaged in Khan Younis, with hundreds more flooded, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa.
Residents, including those who have been displaced over six times since the Israeli war on Gaza began last year, warn that makeshift shelters are not equipped to withstand extreme weather conditions. The strong winds can even pull apart durable tents, putting children and the elderly at further risk.
The Palestinian Civil Defence said they received hundreds of distressed calls from displaced Palestinians asking for help to save their children amid the flooding. “We appeal to people of conscience to rush to save these families and help them move to suitable shelters,” they said in a statement.
Widespread food insecurity is also a major concern, with over 1.1 million people at risk of facing catastrophic conditions due to extreme cold and heavy rain. The Israeli siege on Gaza has prevented the necessary amounts of food, water, electricity, medicine, and other basic necessities from entering the enclave.
The situation is dire, with infants dying as a result of the cold weather and lack of shelter. “CeasefireNow + An immediate flow of much needed basic supplies including for #WINTER,” warned Unrwa’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini.
As the war continues to bar humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, residents are forced to rely on charity and their own resources to survive. For many, the coming winter promises to be even more unbearable, with no end in sight to the conflict that has left them without a home or basic necessities.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/rainstorms-uproot-gaza-tents-leave-children-freezing-hungry