Severe cold, floods put Palestinians in Gaza at grave risk: UN
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UN warns that the extreme weather has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza exposed to cold and wet conditions.
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Forcibly displaced Palestinians in Gaza amid rain and huge destruction (UNRWA)
The UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA) issued an urgent alert, on Thursday, regarding the worsening conditions for hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians in Gaza, as heavy rains and strong winds increase their vulnerability to the cold, Anadolu Agency reported.
Palestinians in Gaza have already been rendered homeless due to "Israel’s" prolonged military aggression, which lasted over 15 months until a ceasefire was established on January 19.
"Many families remain in makeshift shelters due to widespread destruction," UNRWA stated.
The agency highlighted that the extreme weather has left hundreds of thousands exposed to cold and wet conditions.
UNRWA teams are actively distributing "urgent and long-awaited aid—tents, mattresses, blankets, and clothing—to displaced people across Gaza."
Heavy rain and strong winds in #Gaza have left hundreds of thousands exposed to cold and wet conditions in the past 24 hours.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) February 6, 2025
Many families remain in makeshift shelters due to widespread destruction.
UNRWA continues to be the largest agency on the ground delivering urgent and… pic.twitter.com/iiQH816JN8
A video shared by UNRWA captured strong winds tearing through fragile tents made of cloth and nylon, scattering personal belongings in the al-Mawasi area, northwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
'Harsh and catastrophic' nights
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou described the night as "harsh and catastrophic" for Palestinians in makeshift shelters, with the severe weather compounding their already dire circumstances.
"The catastrophic reality in Gaza due to winter and the weather conditions requires international pressure and urgent action to compel the [Israeli] Occupation to implement humanitarian protocols," he stated.
A difficult night with wind, rain and a low pressure system in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/wF3B7Fn5Ad
— abd (@Abdulla91749262) February 6, 2025
Relentless overnight rain, as per the agency, inundated tents and shelters across northern and southern Gaza, further worsening the humanitarian crisis for forcibly displaced Palestinians, many of whom are forced to live among the ruins of their destroyed homes.
Survivors of the Israeli onslaught are taking refuge in makeshift tents constructed from cloth and nylon, with many seeking shelter in al-Mawasi and amid the rubble of their devastated neighborhoods.
Others have been left with no choice but to endure the elements on roadsides, in sports fields, public squares, and schools, lacking any protection from the cold and storms.
Gaza Media Office reported that nearly 88 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure—including homes, essential facilities, and public services—has been destroyed by Israeli bombardment.
Gaza warns of crisis as floods displace civilians
In a related context, local authorities in Gaza City issued a stark warning on Thursday about an impending humanitarian disaster after rainwater and sewage inundated the tents of displaced civilians, exacerbating the devastation caused by "Israel’s" military assault, Anadolu Agency reported.
"The city is facing a stifling humanitarian disaster due to severe damage to infrastructure and a severe shortage of resources and equipment needed to provide basic services," said Gaza Municipality spokesperson Hosni Muhanna.
He explained that recent stormy winds "have worsened the suffering of the displaced in the camps and shelters, as rainwater and sewage swept through hundreds of tents, causing dozens of them to fly away."
Muhanna further detailed the extensive damage inflicted on Gaza’s infrastructure, reporting that eight sewage pumping stations, three rainwater collection basins, and more than 175,000 linear meters of sewage networks have been destroyed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fifteen months of war have taken a heavy toll on Gaza's health system, with only 18 of the region's 36 hospitals still operational.
"This has resulted in sewage overflow in several areas that flooded streets and mixed with rainwater in collection basins," he added.
The spokesperson also noted that the ongoing electricity and fuel shortages are intensifying the crisis, preventing municipal authorities from effectively managing the flooding.
It is worth noting that the death toll in Gaza has risen to 47,583, with 111,633 people injured since October 7, 2023, according to the latest daily statistical report.
In 24 hours, Gaza hospitals received 31 martyrs, including 28 bodies retrieved from the rubble, one person who succumbed to injuries sustained earlier, and two killed, along with four wounded individuals. Authorities warn that many victims remain trapped under the rubble and on the roads, as emergency and civil defense teams are unable to reach them.
