Winter Is Coming, And Gaza Has Nowhere To Hide: Palestine Pleads For World To Act Before It Is Too Late
By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — The first rains have fallen in Gaza, and with them has come a new wave of suffering for nearly two million Palestinians who have already survived bombardment, displacement and hunger. Now, they are facing the cold, the floods and the sewage, with almost nothing to protect them.
The State of Palestine is calling on the international community, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and international humanitarian and relief organizations to take immediate and coordinated action to save lives in the Gaza Strip, as winter sets in and an escalating humanitarian and environmental catastrophe unfolds.
Speaking in Harare, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri, said the first rainfall has exposed the devastating conditions facing forcibly displaced Palestinians. According to preliminary estimates, more than 70,000 tents sheltering tens of thousands of people have been flooded, while walls and buildings already weakened by Israeli bombardment have collapsed, causing injuries among civilians.
This is not simply the result of severe weather. It is the direct consequence of prolonged Israeli genocide, the widespread destruction of infrastructure, continued displacement, and the denial of essential humanitarian assistance and adequate shelter. Israel continues to obstruct the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 2720 and 2803.
Across the Gaza Strip, nearly two million Palestinians are enduring appalling humanitarian conditions across approximately 270,000 tents and displacement sites. An estimated 60 to 85 percent of these tents are worn out and unfit for use. More than 400,000 displaced people are living in particularly vulnerable areas exposed to flooding, rainwater accumulation and coastal hazards.
The destruction of sewage and rainwater drainage networks is further compounding these risks. Children, older persons and patients lack adequate winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and safe heating, while electricity outages and fuel shortages leave them increasingly exposed to life-threatening cold and disease.
The State of Palestine stresses that urgent action must go beyond statements of concern. It is calling for immediate pressure on Israel to open all crossings and ensure the unrestricted and sustained entry of humanitarian assistance in sufficient quantities, reaching all areas of Gaza. It is calling for the urgent entry of fuel and equipment to operate water and sewage systems and remove floodwater and wastewater.
It is also calling for the provision of emergency winter shelter, including temporary housing, weather-resistant tents, waterproof materials and supplies to repair damaged buildings, and for the delivery of winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and safe heating supplies, particularly for children, infants, older persons and patients.
At the same time, Palestine is demanding an urgent health and preventive response, including medicines, medical supplies, clean water, sanitation materials and measures to prevent disease outbreaks, as well as the entry of essential logistical and technical equipment to support municipalities, civil defence teams and humanitarian responders in protecting civilians.
Ambassador Almassri emphasised that the international community has the means and the responsibility to act. It must exert immediate pressure to ensure the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions and guarantee the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Leaving nearly two million Palestinians exposed to rain, flooding, freezing temperatures, and sewage, without adequate shelter or basic necessities, is exposing them to preventable suffering and loss of life. The time to act is now.
