A man clears water from his tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians following heavy rain in Deir el-Balah, the Gaza Strip.

Winter storms worsen Gaza displacement crisis, says GMO

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17 hours ago|

Palestine

Heavy winter storms in Gaza collapse over 50 previously damaged buildings and render 127,000 displacement tents unusable.
More than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians face severe cold, flooding, and unsafe shelter conditions.

Gaza’s Government Media Office confirmed that over 50 previously damaged or bombed homes and buildings have collapsed since the onset of severe winter storms.

The office reported fatalities inside displacement tents due to extreme cold, and said more than 127,000 tents are no longer usable, leaving over 1.5 million displaced people without minimum protection.

Homes collapse, children injured

The office said that the recent storms have caused the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians as buildings fell on their residents.

Today, a child was injured in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, when a house wall collapsed amid strong winds and rain. Thousands of displaced people continue to live in fragile tents or damaged buildings that cannot withstand the harsh weather.

Shelter shortages compound crisis

Displaced families have no safe alternatives after losing their original homes to previous bombing. Delays in delivering reconstruction and shelter materials, including caravans, have left tents exposed to rain, wind, and freezing temperatures.

Heavy rainfall has flooded hundreds of tents, creating dangerous conditions for children, women, and the elderly. Aid groups warn that the ongoing situation poses direct risks to lives and health, amid continued international inaction.

Context of ongoing violence

Since October 7, 2023, 'Israel' has carried out widespread attacks in Gaza, including killings, starvation, destruction, displacement, and arrests, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice.

The violence has resulted in over 242,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, including many women and children, more than 11,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and widespread famine. Much of Gaza’s infrastructure and urban areas have been destroyed.