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.
According to Unicef spokesman Jonathan Crickx, the weather conditions have been horrendous, with reports of up to 15cm (6in) of water flooding areas near his office. Alarmingly, one baby has died from hypothermia, along with several others from building collapses caused by the severe weather.
As of now, almost 55,000 families have been affected, with many struggling to keep dry in makeshift shelters. Over 40 emergency shelters were severely flooded, prompting further relocations.
UN agencies have ramped up their efforts to provide aid, but the scale of the disaster is overwhelming. Crickx stressed that temperatures during the nights have plummeted to around 7C (45F), creating additional risks.
Despite the challenges, Unicef has procured winter clothing kits and blankets, but the need is still profound, and thousands of displaced individuals continue to endure harsh conditions.
Reports indicate that 17 people have died due to building collapses linked to the weather, underscoring the urgent need for international assistance and a sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
