Gaza Government Warns of Mass Casualties as Weather Crisis Grips the Region
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the head of the Union of Municipalities of Gaza, Yahya Al-Sarraj, has highlighted the serious dangers posed by the new weather system entering the region, particularly given the extensive infrastructure damage and the intensifying humanitarian crisis.
Al-Sarraj stated that the area has not yet recovered from previous weather events, and the current system doubles the risks for residents and displaced people. Last night’s storms and heavy rains led to the flooding and scattering of hundreds of tents sheltering displaced individuals in the western part of Gaza City.
The most significant damage from the high winds and rain was concentrated in the Shalihat and Tel al-Hawa areas. Local officials have warned of the potential for tents and shelters to be flooded, especially in low-lying and densely populated areas, given the lack of safe housing and heating.
Emergency and civil defense teams are working with limited resources to mitigate damage and rescue citizens, but fuel shortages are hindering the operation of machinery and pumping stations, increasing the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Gaza government has also cautioned about the possible collapse of damaged buildings where displaced people have been forced to reside, emphasizing that these structures pose a threat to civilian lives.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Civil Defense Organization has warned of the severe consequences of the current weather system in Gaza, given the near-total collapse of the service system after the war. Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal stated that the destruction of most of its machinery and equipment by the occupying forces, along with shortages of heavy equipment, pumps, and fuel, severely limits its ability to respond to any emergency.
Basal pointed out that the field situation cannot withstand the current weather conditions, adding that the present weather system could lead to mass casualties. High winds and rain put fragile tents and damaged buildings at risk of collapse at any moment. Thousands of families are living in low-lying and open areas without protective equipment, exposing them to the risk of flooding and extreme cold.
The organization stressed that the policy of setting up tents is no longer suitable for living under the current weather conditions, urging the international community and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to provide safe shelter and protective equipment.
