A Winter Storm’s Devastating Impact on Gaza’s Displaced Population

A severe winter storm is currently threatening the lives of nearly 900,000 Palestinians who are enduring harsh conditions in temporary shelters across Gaza. Tragically, a 30-year-old woman named Alaa Marwan Juha lost her life when a wall collapsed on her tent in the Remal neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday, as reported by local sources.

Storm Conditions and Casualties

The tragedy unfolded amid relentless rain and strong winds that began impacting the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening. These severe weather conditions have caused significant flooding and have rendered many of the tents used by forcibly displaced families uninhabitable. Witnesses mentioned that a partially destroyed wall could not withstand the wind and fell onto Juha’s tent, injuring several family members as well.

Since late 2023, many families in Gaza have been living in tents due to ongoing violence and destruction in the region. The encampments are currently facing extreme weather, with forecasts indicating that rain could escalate into a dangerous storm.

Humanitarian Crisis Intensified

Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO), highlighted how these weather conditions exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the enclave. He explained, “This low-pressure system will complicate matters further and poses a danger to the lives of citizens.” Shawa emphasized that the tents provide insufficient protection against flooding and urged for immediate access to mobile homes and repair equipment for the damaged sewage systems.

He remarked, “Tents represent neither a choice nor a solution,” referring to established humanitarian protocols that necessitate the provision of adequate shelter for displaced individuals.

The Call for International Aid

Shawa further called on the international community to apply pressure on Israel, urging the lifting of restrictions on essential aid. He described the entire Gaza Strip as a “disaster area.” Recent reports indicate that at least 15 individuals, including three infants, have succumbed to hypothermia due to the rainfall and plummeting temperatures this month.

Emergency responders are warning residents to vacate damaged buildings, many of which are on the verge of total collapse. Unfortunately, with vast areas reduced to rubble, safe havens from the storm are alarmingly scarce.

Crisis in Healthcare and Continued Violence

The health care system in Gaza is nearing total collapse, further compounded by the lack of critical medical supplies and aid. In a separate note of the ongoing turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently traveled to the United States to discuss the next steps in ceasefire negotiations, following the initial agreement that took effect on October 10.

Despite the terms of the ceasefire agreement, violations have continued, and critical humanitarian aid remains obstructed. A proposed 20-point plan for peace by a United States leader this past September included a temporary truce, which has yet to resolve the rising tensions. Since hostilities resumed, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported over 414 Palestinian fatalities and 1,142 injuries linked to these violations.

The ongoing war has resulted in staggering casualties, with at least 71,266 Palestinians dead and 171,219 injured since October 2023, highlighting the desperate situation facing the region.

Conclusion

The combination of severe weather, ongoing violence, and a humanitarian crisis creates an alarming situation for Palestinians in Gaza. Immediate action is needed to address their plight as winter weather intensifies.

• A woman in Gaza tragically died when a wall collapsed on her tent during a winter storm.
• Nearly 900,000 Palestinians are living in tents facing extreme weather conditions.
• The humanitarian crisis is worsening due to inadequate shelter and medical supplies.
• Ceasefire violations continue, with significant loss of life reported in Gaza.