Palestinian group Hamas urgently warned that severe winter storms are dramatically worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis within the war-torn Gaza Strip. Torrential downpours immediately flooded the worn-out tents housing thousands of displaced Palestinians who desperately lack basic protection from the chilling winter elements.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated conditions for these vulnerable families are rapidly deteriorating because their makeshift shelters offer no defense against the freezing cold temperatures or heavy rain. He confirmed repeated pleas to permit the delivery of essential shelter materials and initiate reconstruction efforts have regrettably remained unanswered by global bodies.
Urgent Humanitarian Appeals
Qassem directly blamed the deepening suffering on the continuous Israeli blockade of the territory, asserting the international community has consistently failed to take meaningful action to end the siege.
Consequently, the official called upon ceasefire mediators, Arab states, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to initiate urgent and responsible steps. He wants them to prevent an imminent humanitarian catastrophe and break the widespread international silence regarding the population’s critical plight.
Furthermore, heavy rainfall in recent days has already devastated hundreds of tents across numerous areas of the Gaza Strip, overwhelming the extremely limited emergency response capability.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the extreme cold exposure sadly caused the death of one infant amid the inundating of makeshift shelters. The Government Media Office additionally confirmed the storm’s tragic results, twelve people are now either dead or still missing while more than 27,000 temporary shelters were flooded.
