Gaza – The plight of displaced persons in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical point, described as a “complex humanitarian disaster” by Rouhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council. His statement comes after severe storms ravaged displacement camps, leaving families, particularly children, women, and the elderly, exposed to harsh conditions without adequate shelter.
In a statement released Saturday, Fattouh condemned the ongoing restrictions imposed on the entry of tents and essential relief supplies, including vital construction materials needed to reinforce shelters. He asserted that these restrictions constitute a blatant violation of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, which mandates the facilitation of humanitarian aid flow.
The collapse and flooding of tents under torrential rains have exposed the sheer scale of the tragedy unfolding in these devastated areas, where displaced individuals are deprived of the most basic necessities. A crippling blockade further exacerbates the situation, preventing even the entry of raw materials needed to cope with the adverse weather conditions.
Fattouh called for immediate and urgent humanitarian intervention, demanding the establishment of safe corridors to allow the unrestricted entry of tents, building materials, and relief supplies. He emphasized that the current situation is unsustainable, with the lives of over two million people at risk due to the continued blockade and the absence of minimal protection against the harsh weather.
“The protection of Palestinian civilians is a legal and humanitarian imperative,” Fattouh stated. He urged the international community to utilize its authority and resources to ensure the implementation of obligations stipulated in international agreements and to exert pressure to halt policies that exacerbate the suffering of the population in the Gaza Strip. The international community must act now to alleviate the suffering of the displaced in Gaza.
