Deir al-Balah, Dec 11: A winter storm swept through Gaza, flooding tent camps and highlighting the territory’s dire humanitarian crisis.
Thousands of Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas war faced waterlogged shelters, leaking tents, and unsanitary conditions, with over 2,500 distress calls reported since the storm began.
Children, the elderly, and sick residents were particularly affected.
Aid groups say Israel has failed to allow sufficient humanitarian supplies, with only a fraction of the 300,000 tents needed reaching Gaza, alongside limited winter clothing, water pumps, and heavy machinery for rebuilding.
UN agencies warned that cold, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions heighten the risk of disease.
Hamas officials urged urgent reconstruction and the opening of border crossings, stressing that relief and stability are critical to advance the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire, which aims to address ongoing civilian suffering and support essential recovery efforts in the war-battered territory. (AP)
