Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP) - A winter storm named Byron has hit the war-torn Gaza Strip, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation faced by the displaced Palestinians living in tent camps. Despite a two-month ceasefire, the conditions continue to deteriorate, emphasizing the insufficiency of the aid provided during this period.
The heavy rains have caused significant flooding in the camps, with mud inundating the dirt roads and turning the living areas into squalid conditions. Displaced families have discovered their belongings and food supplies soaked, with the water levels reaching knee-deep in some areas. Um Salman Abu Qenas, a mother in a Khan Younis tent camp, lamented the dire state of her living conditions, stating that her family had to endure a sleepless night due to the water pooling in their tent.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed concerns that insufficient shelter materials have made it into Gaza amid the truce. The Israeli military has released figures suggesting that they have not complied with the stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily, a claim disputed by Israel itself. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, raised alarms about the heightened risk of illness and infection due to cold, overcrowded, and unsanitary living conditions, calling for unrestricted humanitarian aid and medical support.
Reports from residents in the Khan Younis camp highlight the challenges they face. Sabreen Qudeeh noted her family woke up to rain leaking from their tent's ceiling, while others described the terrible conditions resulting from the flooding. Ahmad Abu Taha added that every tent in the camp has been impacted by the severe weather.
As the storm escalates, more than a dozen individuals have been reported trapped in their cars in south-central Israel due to flooding, demonstrating the widespread impact of the weather system. In contrast, the damage inflicted upon Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict has left the majority of its two million residents displaced, many now residing in expansive tent camps or makeshift shelters among the remnants of destroyed buildings.
Several buildings in Gaza City, already weakened by prior bombardments, have partially collapsed under the rain. The Palestinian Civil Defense agency has warned residents to avoid staying in these compromised structures. Since the storm’s onset, they have received over 2,500 distress calls regarding damaged tents and shelters.
Residents are being forced to take matters into their own hands by using buckets and mops to remove water from their tents. Aliaa Bahtiti shared her plight, explaining how her 8-year-old son was soaked overnight, while Baraka Bhar expressed grave concern for her three-month-old twins, one of whom suffers from hydrocephalus. Bhar mentioned the tents were old and continuously leaked rainwater, pleading for assistance so they do not lose their children in the harsh winter conditions.
Aid groups have criticized the Israeli government for not permitting sufficient aid to reconstruct Gaza after prolonged conflicts. Israel had initially agreed to allow 600 trucks of aid and other necessities, including caravans and tents, to enter Gaza, but reports indicate that much of this has not been fulfilled. The Shelter Cluster, an international coalition of aid agencies, has reported significantly lower numbers than those claimed by Israel, with only about 15,590 tents entering Gaza under the ceasefire.
Amjad al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that only a small fraction of the 300,000 tents required have arrived. He noted Palestinians are in desperate need of warmer winter clothing and have accused Israel of hindering the entry of essential equipment like water pumps to alleviate flooding.
In a separate development, Amnesty International has released a report accusing Hamas and other militant groups of committing crimes against humanity during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which ignited the ongoing conflict. The report details numerous incidents, including the systematic killing of civilians and torture, asserting that the assault was intentionally directed at a civilian population, meeting recognized criteria for crimes against humanity.
The humanitarian situation continues to remain grave, as both local and international agencies call for urgent intervention and unfettered aid access to address the tragic plight of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict and harsh winter conditions.
