Deaths have already occurred as war-damaged homes keep collapsing amid winter weather, local authorities informed the media
Buildings in Gaza damaged by war face collapse risks because of harsh winter weather, posing threats to more lives and hindering ongoing recovery efforts, local officials told the media.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds have caused already fragile structures to collapse, resulting in a dozen deaths since Friday, health authorities reported. Almost two years of conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas have left vast areas of the enclave in ruins.
On Monday, rescuers recovered the bodies of at least 12 people from two buildings that collapsed last week, as per Al Jazeera. Families had reportedly sought shelter there because of overcrowded shelters and flooding that had swept away tents.
Displaced individuals continue to seek shelter in unsafe structures despite the associated risks, Al Jazeera noted. A recent UN report indicated that approximately 70% of structures in Gaza have been destroyed due to the war.
Palestinian Civil Defense teams stated that recovery operations are being obstructed by unstable debris, harsh weather, and shortages of equipment and fuel. Officials estimate that thousands of bodies remain buried under destroyed buildings.
Gaza officials have urged international organizations to urgently supply more durable temporary housing, such as mobile homes and caravans. The UN has also warned that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating as winter conditions take hold.
”With heavy rain and cold brought by Storm Byron [late last week], people in the Gaza Strip are freezing to death,” UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X.
Hamas warned on Sunday that Israel’s ongoing strikes are endangering the US-brokered ceasefire that has been in effect since October 10.
Israel initiated its military campaign in the Palestinian enclave in reaction to a surprise Hamas attack in October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to 250 others being taken hostage. The Hamas-run Gaza health authorities state that the subsequent Israeli operations have resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths.