Tragedy struck the Gaza Strip as seven Palestinians died due to structural collapses exacerbated by the ongoing severe weather conditions. The region is grappling with a critical shortage of resources and aid, compounding the suffering of displaced populations.
According to emergency services, five individuals lost their lives, and others were injured when a house collapsed in Bir al-Naaja, located in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. Separately, civil defense sources reported that two people died when a large wall fell onto a displaced persons’ tent in western Gaza City earlier today.
Just yesterday, four buildings collapsed in various parts of Gaza City following heavy rainfall. Civil defense authorities have issued urgent warnings regarding the dangers posed by damaged and dilapidated buildings housing displaced families. The current weather system is bringing torrential rains, further weakening already compromised structures and causing soil erosion.
The Ministry of Health reported the death of a young girl, Rahaf Abu Jazar, who succumbed to the cold and rain after floodwaters inundated displacement tents in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis. This latest tragedy underscores the dire humanitarian situation facing displaced Gazans.
These events unfold as displaced persons face catastrophic conditions, lacking basic necessities and struggling to access essential services due to the ongoing challenges. Despite efforts by service providers and individual initiatives to alleviate the situation, the scale of suffering far exceeds available resources.
Approximately 250,000 families currently reside in displacement camps across the Gaza Strip, exposed to cold and flooding within dilapidated tents, amidst a severe shortage of aid, according to previous statements from civil defense officials. Many displaced individuals are forced to seek shelter in damaged tents, with a governmental media office in Gaza estimating that approximately 93% of tents in the region are no longer suitable for habitation.
The situation remains critical, demanding urgent international attention and increased humanitarian assistance to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of displaced communities in Gaza.
