Heavy rains flood hundreds of tents sheltering displaced Gazans, causing injuries and damaging shelters amid severe weather and fuel shortages.
GAZA CITY: Heavy rains have flooded hundreds of tents sheltering displaced civilians across the Gaza Strip.
A woman sustained moderate injuries after a house wall collapsed onto her tent in western Gaza City, a medical source confirmed.
Witnesses reported that hundreds of tents in the Chalet area, west of Gaza City, were inundated as a new low-pressure system ravaged the territory.
Strong winds caused widespread damage to dozens of tents and blew many away as residents tried to secure their shelters and rescue belongings.
This severe weather follows a recent storm that killed at least 11 Palestinians and caused initial direct losses of USD 4 million.
Yahya al-Sarraj, head of the Gaza Municipalities Union, warned of serious repercussions from the new weather system.
“An acute fuel shortage is exacerbating the catastrophic conditions in Gaza and hinders efforts to operating machinery and pumping stations, especially during severe weather,” he said.
Sarraj also warned of a potential collapse of damaged residential buildings where displaced people have sheltered.
According to the Gaza Media Office, 13 buildings previously destroyed in Israeli strikes collapsed during the last storm.
He appealed for urgent relief aid, including winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and safe heating means. – Bernama-Anadolu
