Khan Yunis Mayor: The city is experiencing catastrophic humanitarian conditions and the situation exceeds our capabilities

The city of Khan Yunis, like the rest of the Gaza Strip, is experiencing difficult humanitarian conditions amid the harsh weather depression, where people's suffering has increased due to the severe cold and heavy rains.

The streets are flooded with water, while the fierce winds have worsened the damage to the already damaged homes and tents, forcing families to struggle to protect their children from the cold.

The city is witnessing power outages and difficulties in movement, which have exacerbated the residents' conditions.

In this context, Khan Yunis Mayor Alaeddin Al-Batta stated that the city is experiencing unprecedented catastrophic humanitarian conditions, amid the widespread destruction that has affected residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, and the ongoing siege and prevention of entry of basic aid, which puts the city on the brink of complete collapse.

He explained that the Khan Yunis Municipality faces enormous challenges amid the destruction of water and sewage networks and roads, in addition to damage to water wells and pumping stations, which has caused a severe crisis in providing clean water, exacerbating health and environmental risks, especially with the leakage of wastewater and accumulation of waste in the streets.

He pointed out that the recent weather conditions and weather depressions have increased the citizens' suffering, especially amid the ban on importing shelter tents and relief materials, leaving thousands of families, including large numbers of children, without shelter to protect them from the cold and rain, warning of serious health repercussions, particularly the spread of diseases among children and the elderly.

The mayor confirmed that children in Khan Yunis are the most affected, suffering from hunger, cold, and lack of food and water, amid the near-total absence of basic life necessities, noting that what is happening threatens the future of an entire generation, leaving long-term psychological and health effects.

He added that the municipality's teams continue to work despite limited capabilities and great risks, but the shortage of fuel and maintenance materials hinders the operation of water wells and sewage stations, limiting the municipality's ability to respond to the growing needs of the residents.

He emphasized that the current situation exceeds the capabilities of the municipality and local institutions, calling for urgent international intervention to immediately allow the entry of humanitarian aid, shelter tents, fuel, and medical supplies, stressing that saving civilians, especially children, must be a top priority.

The Khan Yunis Mayor concluded his speech by affirming that what the city is witnessing is a humanitarian tragedy by all standards, warning that the continuation of international silence will lead to the worsening of the catastrophe, and calling on the international community to shoulder its moral and humanitarian responsibilities, and to work urgently to ensure the minimum necessities of life for the city's residents.