Storm Byron Brings Devastation to Gaza’s Displacement Camps

A severe storm has hit the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the already dire living conditions in the territory’s displacement camps. The storm, which brought heavy rains and strong winds, has flooded the camps, leaving thousands of Palestinians without adequate shelter or access to basic necessities. The situation has been further complicated by the lack of sufficient aid, despite a ceasefire agreement that stipulated the entry of 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily.

The effects of the storm have been particularly severe in the displacement camps, where children’s feet have been submerged in opaque brown water and trucks have struggled to navigate the muddy terrain. The camps’ inadequate infrastructure, including the lack of proper sewage systems, has turned piles of garbage and sewage into waterfalls. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has warned that the cold, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions in the camps heighten the risk of illness and infection.

According to figures from the Israeli military body COGAT, Israel has not met its commitment to allow 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily. Aid groups have also reported that the shelter aid that has been allowed into Gaza is insufficient, with many tents lacking proper insulation. The Shelter Cluster, an international coalition of aid providers, estimates that only 15,590 tents have been delivered to Gaza since the truce began, far short of the 300,000 needed.

The Palestinian Civil Defense has reported over 2,500 distress calls from citizens whose tents and shelters have been damaged, and senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal has called for the rehabilitation of hospitals, the entry of heavy machinery to remove rubble, and the opening of the Rafah crossing. Aid groups have accused Israel of blocking the entry of essential supplies, including water pumps and warm clothing.

The situation in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the Israel-Hamas war, which has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced and without access to basic necessities. The international community has been urged to take responsibility for addressing the crisis, with Amjad al-Shawa, Gaza chief of the Palestinian NGO Network, warning of a “real danger for people in Gaza at all levels.” As the storm continues to affect the region, the need for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has never been more pressing.