A devastating fire in a Gaza City displacement camp has claimed the lives of a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson. According to the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza, the tragedy occurred on Thursday night when their tent caught fire. The victims, Amal Abu al-Khair and her grandson, were among hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians struggling to endure the harsh winter weather in makeshift housing.
The fire broke out in the Yarmouk displacement camp while Muhammad, Amal’s son, was cooking dinner in the nylon tent. Strong winter winds fueled the flames, making it impossible to control the blaze. The tent, which served as both living and cooking space, was filled with flammable materials like plastic utensils, creating a hazardous environment.
Mona Abu al-Khair, a relative of the victims, explained that the hot cooking oil ignited and spread rapidly, and due to Muhammad’s poor eyesight and the confined space, he could not control the fire. Despite his mother’s attempts to extinguish it, the fire engulfed the entire tent, leaving Muhammad with third-degree burns and in critical condition.
The tragedy has highlighted the dire living conditions faced by displaced Palestinians in Gaza, particularly during the harsh winter months. Over the past few weeks, cold winter rains have caused flooding, turned dirt roads into mud, and led to the collapse of damaged buildings. At least six children have died in Gaza in December due to extreme winter conditions and a lack of safe shelters, according to the United Nations’ children agency.
Aid groups have raised concerns that not enough shelter materials are being allowed into Gaza during the truce, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. While Israel’s military has disputed claims that it has not met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily, the situation on the ground remains dire. The incident has reinforced the need for urgent attention to the plight of displaced Palestinians in Gaza, who continue to face immense challenges in accessing basic necessities like safe shelter and humanitarian aid.
