Atmospheric Depressions Double the Tragedy of Displaced People in Gaza Amidst Ruined Infrastructure

The chapters of humanitarian suffering for the people of the Gaza Strip are renewed with the arrival of a new atmospheric depression, which clearly revealed the fragility of the living conditions endured by the displaced in dilapidated camps. Field sources from a camp in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, reported that heavy rainwater flooded the narrow passages, turning the lives of thousands into a continuous hell under the weight of bitter cold.

Displaced people in the area confirmed that conditions are worsening with every cold wave that hits the Strip, as stagnant water accumulated in the alleys, leading to an alarming spread of insects and rodents. Citizens are trying by primitive means to alleviate the burden of flooding, but the absence of basic capabilities prevents them from protecting their families from water leaking into temporary shelters.

In testimonies from the heart of the tragedy, one of the displaced explained that the suffering is not limited to the flooding of tents, but extends to a severe shortage of essential bedding and winter clothes. He pointed out that after rainfall, the area turns into a pile of mud and dirt, making living inside these tents impossible in the absence of cleanliness and heating.

For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Health issued urgent warnings about the serious health repercussions resulting from the accumulation of rainwater in neighborhoods and streets crowded with displaced people. The ministry explained that these water accumulations constitute a fertile environment for epidemics, threatening the lives of citizens, especially children and the elderly who live in tents lacking the most basic safety requirements.

Child Hala recounted part of the tragedy, stating that their tent was completely flooded and her family found no way to drain the water or dry the place, amid a complete absence of rescue or drainage teams. This testimony reflects the general state of helplessness suffered by Palestinian families who found themselves alone in the face of harsh weather fluctuations and collapsed infrastructure.

Citizens demanded the immediate start of reconstruction of the Strip and the provision of alternative housing to protect them from seasonal fluctuations, pointing out that the destroyed infrastructure is no longer able to accommodate the simplest rain showers. The displaced stressed their urgent need for mobile homes (caravans), clothes, and food for children, in light of the inability of local authorities to intervene effectively due to the ongoing siege.

This atmospheric disaster coincides with the Israeli occupation's insistence on reducing the entry of humanitarian aid and basic needs into the Gaza Strip in violation of international laws. Although humanitarian protocols stipulate the entry of a minimum of 600 trucks daily, what is allowed to pass does not exceed 200 trucks, exacerbating the deficit in facing the repercussions of winter.

Our tents were completely flooded due to the accumulated rain, with no party working to drain or remove it from the middle of the camp.