Hamas warns of worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza amid new storm
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening with the arrival of a new storm, which has flooded the tents of thousands of displaced people who lack even the most basic protection from the elements.
In a statement on Monday evening, Qassem said that the living conditions of displaced civilians continue to deteriorate, as they endure cold and rain in tattered tents, compounding their daily suffering.
He noted that previous warnings and appeals for the entry of proper shelter materials and the initiation of reconstruction efforts have gone unanswered.
Qassem also criticized the international community’s failure to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, stating that this has directly contributed to the deepening humanitarian crisis.
He urged mediators, the countries guaranteeing the ceasefire agreement, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take urgent and responsible action to rescue Gaza’s population from an imminent humanitarian catastrophe and to end the international silence surrounding the plight of civilians.
In recent days, heavy rainfall has flooded hundreds of tents in Gaza, where displaced people are enduring dire conditions amid a severe shortage of civil defense resources and capabilities.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the torrential rain submerged tents sheltering families displaced by Israel’s genocidal war and reported the death of an infant from exposure to freezing cold.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that 12 people have either died or are missing due to the storm. At least 13 buildings have collapsed, and approximately 27,000 tents have been flooded.