Winter doubles the tragedy in Gaza as chaos takes hold once again

The head of the Gaza Strip Municipalities Union, Yahya Al-Sarraj, warned of grave dangers threatening the lives of residents and displaced persons with the arrival of a new low-pressure system, amid widespread destruction of infrastructure and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

Gaza: further chaos for millions

Al-Sarraj stressed that the Gaza Strip has already been decimated by Israel’s genocide, noting that the current low pressure system doubles the risks, especially for tens of thousands of displaced persons living in tents and shelters that lack the minimum safety requirements.

Heavy rains on Monday 15 December evening flooded and destroyed hundreds of tents for displaced persons west of Gaza City, with the damage concentrated in the areas of Shalih and Tel al-Hawa, due to strong winds and heavy rains.

Al-Sarraj warned of the dangers of flooding in tents and shelters, especially in low-lying and densely populated areas, in the absence of safe shelter and heating, which exacerbates the suffering of children, older, and sick people.

He explained that emergency and civil defence teams are working with limited resources to try to limit the damage and rescue citizens, at a time when a severe fuel shortage is hampering the operation of heavy machinery and water pumping stations, further exacerbating the humanitarian situation.

He also warned of the possibility of collapses in damaged buildings housing forcibly displaced persons, cautioning that the continuation of these conditions could lead to civilian casualties.

Al-Sarraj called on the international community and humanitarian organisations to intervene urgently to provide emergency aid, shelter and fuel, and to work to protect civilians from the repercussions of repeated low pressure systems in the context of an extremely fragile humanitarian situation.

Featured image via the Canary