In brief
Severe weather has worsened the living conditions for thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza. UNICEF reports that heavy rains have severely impacted shelters, with the threat of hypothermia looming over vulnerable families. The situation has led to multiple deaths and ongoing concerns about the adequacy of humanitarian aid in response to these worsening conditions.
Heavy rains over the past week have compounded the already dire living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies say. UNICEF spokesman Jonathan Crickx told the BBC that the weather overnight had been horrendous, with the rain so intense that he had seen up to 15cm (6in) of water on the ground near his office.
He said he was extremely concerned that children living in tents and makeshift shelters in wet clothing would succumb to hypothermia and other illnesses. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has reported one baby’s death due to hypothermia.
UN agencies have stepped up deliveries of tents, blankets, and clothes since the Gaza ceasefire began nine weeks ago, but they have indicated that there is still not enough aid getting in.
The storms have affected almost 55,000 families, damaging their belongings and shelters. Over 40 emergency shelters were severely flooded, forcing relocations once again.
As temperatures drop dangerously, UNICEF fears more fatalities could occur if urgent assistance does not arrive soon. Many makeshift shelters were already at risk of collapse due to the severe weather, and the continuing need for aid remains immense.
The recent weather has proven devastating, compounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis sparked by the recent conflict. With reports of additional casualties due to the structural failures of damaged buildings, experts stress that timely and consistent humanitarian intervention is critical to prevent further tragedies.
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