Tragedy struck Gaza as severe weather conditions claimed the lives of 14 Palestinians, including six children. Heavy rains and freezing temperatures have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation, leading to the collapse of numerous homes and leaving displaced families struggling to survive.
According to reports from hospitals in Gaza, the victims succumbed to the cold and exposure. More than 15 homes have reportedly collapsed across the Gaza Strip since the onset of the harsh weather system. Displaced families, residing in makeshift tents, are battling the elements with limited resources, desperately trying to protect their children from the freezing conditions.
A multi-story building in the Beit Lahia area, in northern Gaza, collapsed, though no casualties were reported in that incident. Rescue and civil defense teams recovered the bodies of four Palestinians, including two children, following the collapse of a house in the Bir al-Naja area, also in northern Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have been enduring harsh conditions for days, with the ongoing storm severely impacting the region. Reports indicate that rainfall, flooding, and strong winds have damaged or destroyed over 27,000 tents, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that Israel, as the occupying power, immediately and unconditionally allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, stated that over 140,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains, which have flooded more than 200 displacement sites in Gaza. He emphasized the urgent need to lift restrictions on aid entering the Strip and to lift the ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Jonathan Crickx, a spokesperson for UNICEF in Palestine, stressed the critical need for increased aid to Gaza, calling for a surge in support. He specifically mentioned the urgent need for clothing and tents.
Hamas stated that the amount of shelter supplies entering Gaza is insufficient to meet the basic needs of the population and provide adequate protection from the rain and cold.
