GAZA, (PIC)
A severe storm struck various areas of the Gaza Strip in the past hours, uprooting dozens of tents sheltering displaced individuals in the Mawasi area and along the beach west of Khan Yunis, displacing hundreds of families who fled the atrocities of the Israeli genocide against the Strip.
The heavy rains and violent winds that have hit Gaza in recent days have exacerbated the suffering of tens of thousands of displaced people, who have been living in dire conditions since the onset of the Israeli war on the territory. In Rafah and the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, hundreds of tents accommodating the displaced were flooded, while others were blown away by the strong winds, leaving thousands without shelter to protect them from the bitter cold, according to our correspondent.
A night in the open air
Amidst extremely cold weather and winds tearing at the tents, thousands of displaced individuals were forced to spend the night in the open after the storm destroyed what remained of their temporary shelters made of cloth and nylon. These flimsy tents, which were not originally suitable for living, turned into heaps of torn fabric, leaving their inhabitants without any means to protect themselves from the heavy rains and life-threatening cold.
The PIC correspondent reported that despite the harsh conditions the displaced citizens have been living in for several months, the storm added further suffering, as families were left without shelter to shield them from the biting winter cold, amid a lack of any urgent solutions to provide suitable alternatives for housing.
Displaced people share their tragedies
Mohammed Abu Saleem, 50 years old, is one of the displaced individuals who lost his tent during the storm. He recounts the tragedy, saying, “We could barely manage in these flimsy tents, but the strong winds uprooted everything, and now we are homeless. My children are shivering from the cold, and we have nowhere to go.”
He added, “All the tents for the displaced citizens in our camp north of the al-Astal cemetery in the Mawasi area of Qarara have collapsed. We appeal to anyone who can help the people in the streets amid the cold and rain.”
Meanwhile, Um Sami, 38, describes the scene with tearful eyes, “We were already living in difficult conditions, but last night was the worst we have experienced. The winds uprooted the tents and nearly endangered the lives of children, and we are now living in the open amidst mud and rainwater, not knowing where to go.”
Abu Mahmoud, a displaced person in Rafah, says, “We have nothing left to shelter us; the tent we were living in has turned into a pool of water, and the children are shivering from the cold. We have no means of heating, not even enough food for the coming days.”
Winter doubles the disaster
The storm was not the only cause of suffering; the harsh weather conditions have intensified the crisis faced by tens of thousands of Palestinians whose homes have been destroyed by the war. With no alternative shelter available, many have taken refuge in the streets, public squares, schools, and even playgrounds that have turned into temporary shelters lacking the most basic elements of dignified living.
Those who returned to northern Gaza faced other challenges, as they found themselves unable to set up or secure their tents due to the strong winds, while suffering from severe shortages of food and water, with no means of heating amid plummeting nighttime temperatures.
Fuel shortages increase the crisis
Under these circumstances, the lack of fuel exacerbates the suffering, as families find themselves unable to provide any source of heating or cooking, making daily life even more difficult for the displaced.
Citizen Mahmoud Saad al-Din points out that children and the elderly are the most affected, suffering from cold-related illnesses without access to medical care or medications.
Um Ahmed, a mother of five who lost her home in the war, says, “We tried to light some paper and cardboard for warmth, but the winds extinguished everything. We are living without electricity, without enough food, and without any hope for improvement.”
Human rights activist Ahmed Salem confirms that “the situation in the camps is catastrophic, and there is an urgent need to provide safe shelters to protect the displaced from weather fluctuations, in addition to urgent assistance such as blankets, food supplies, and heating tools.”
In these tragic circumstances, displaced individuals in Khan Yunis continue to face daily challenges that exceed their capacity, while their response to these natural disasters remains limited, awaiting urgent support to alleviate their ongoing plight.
Appeals for the rescue of the displaced
As the cold wave continues, appeals from humanitarian organizations for urgent assistance to the displaced are increasing, especially for suitable shelter and heating means. Under these conditions, Palestinians are calling for urgent international intervention to save tens of thousands of families living in catastrophic conditions.
Despite repeated calls, the international response remains limited, while the displaced cling to a slim hope for improved conditions amidst bitter cold and relentless winds. The suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continues, as displaced individuals face consecutive seasons of pain and hardship, amid the world’s silence and the international community’s failure to provide a fundamental solution to their crisis. With the ongoing deterioration of weather conditions, the urgent need for immediate relief remains critical before the tragedy escalates further.
And despite the ceasefire since January 19, the occupying forces continue to delay the entry of mobile homes and tents for the temporary shelter of hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals in the Gaza Strip.
