Gaza: Suffering worsens as displaced people’s tents flood due to rain
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The Gaza Strip witnessed heavy rains yesterday, exacerbating the suffering of thousands of displaced people living in tents and dilapidated buildings.
Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna stated in a press release that hundreds of tents belonging to displaced Palestinians were flooded due to the torrential downpours.
He added, “These new weather systems are once again exposing the fragility of the infrastructure, particularly the rainwater drainage and sewage systems.”
He pointed out that “hundreds of tents belonging to displaced people were flooded during the storm on Monday evening and again on Thursday, after the floods swept mud and debris into the camps and shelters, leading to a deterioration in health and environmental conditions, especially in overcrowded areas.”
Muhanna explained that “the tents of the displaced lack protection from harsh weather conditions. Water seeped inside, damaging the few belongings that families possessed, while the floors turned into muddy expanses.”
He added that “children and the elderly are now more vulnerable to colds and respiratory illnesses, given the lack of heating and the immense pressure on the health sector.” Muhanna stated that over 220,000 meters of sewage networks and approximately 15,000 meters of stormwater drainage networks were destroyed during the Israeli war, resulting in a decrease in the system’s operational capacity by more than 80%. The municipality spokesperson explained that “the current situation prevented the system from absorbing the recent rainfall, causing water to accumulate in the streets and seep into tents and damaged homes.”
He added that municipal crews, in cooperation with the Civil Defense, are making efforts to contain the problems caused by the storm, but they are facing a severe shortage of equipment and machinery needed to pump out the water and carry out urgent maintenance. He warned of the risks of environmental pollution and the spread of diseases if the infrastructure continues to deteriorate without immediate intervention.
Since December 2015, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to several storms that have caused tens of thousands of tents to flood and collapse, and buildings already damaged by previous bombings to crumble. These storms have resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Palestinians, some of whom succumbed to the extreme cold.
