A wave of unstable weather conditions is impacting several Arab nations, bringing with it warnings of flash floods, hail, and dense fog. The adverse weather has already resulted in casualties in Iraq, while authorities in Gaza are bracing for a polar air mass threatening hundreds of thousands of displaced families.
In Iraq, two individuals have died – a 70-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman – and five others were injured due to severe flooding in the city of Chamchamal, located in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate of the Kurdistan Region. The floodwaters inundated homes and led to the closure of major roads in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk.
Civil defense teams managed to rescue two people trapped in their vehicle by the floodwaters south of Kirkuk. While a temporary respite from the flooding is expected on Wednesday, forecasts indicate a return of rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
In the Gaza Strip, the government and civil defense organizations have issued an urgent warning about a deep polar air mass set to arrive on Wednesday and persist for three days. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, posing a significant threat to the hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals living in makeshift tents. There are concerns the tents could be flooded, and water could accumulate in informal displacement areas. The government has appealed for international intervention to provide 300,000 tents and shelters in light of the destruction caused by the Israeli war.
In Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Meteorology has issued red and orange alerts for vast areas, including Mecca, Medina, and the northern and eastern borders. The alerts warn of moderate to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by flash floods, hail, and strong winds. Civil defense authorities are urging residents to avoid valleys and areas prone to water accumulation.
