At least 11 die in storm-hit Gaza from cold and collapsing buildings

At least 11 Palestinians have died in storm-hit Gaza from cold and collapsing buildings within the last 24 hours.

Two children - nine-year-old Hadeel Hamdan and an infant, Taim Khawaja - died from cold in Gaza City on Friday, according to medical sources.

Another child, eight-month-old Rahaf Abu Jazar, died in Khan Younis on Thursday after rainwater leaked into her family’s tent during overnight storms.

Five people were killed when a damaged house in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, collapsed under floods and strong winds. Several others were injured.

Two more deaths occurred when a wall collapsed on tents of displaced Palestinians in the al-Rimal neighbourhood, west of Gaza City. One further death from a crumbling wall was reported in al-Shati refugee camp, north Gaza.

Overall, at least 13 buildings - already partly damaged from Israeli bombing - collapsed due to heavy rain and strong winds, according to the Gaza-based Government Media Office. Some people remain trapped under the rubble, with others wounded.

Meanwhile, over 27,000 tents of displaced families have been destroyed or swept away by floods and strong winds. More than 250,000 displaced people have been affected by rain, floods, and collapsing shelters.

‘We’re drowning’: Gaza baby dies as storm floods tent encampments 

Read More »

Over 4,300 distress calls have been made across the Gaza Strip since the storm began earlier this week, the Ministry of Interior and National Security said.

Despite limited resources, the ministry said search-and-rescue civil defence teams, along with police, are doing their best to help people.

Storm Byron hit Palestine and Israel earlier this week and is expected to continue into Friday. Its impact has been devastating in the Gaza Strip, where nearly 1.5 million people live in tents, while most of the remaining 700,000 reside in partially destroyed buildings.

After two years of relentless bombing that damaged or destroyed around 92 percent of all residential buildings, Israel has blocked the entry of tents and mobile homes into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

The move violates the terms of the ceasefire agreement signed in October, which stipulated that Israel must allow 300,000 tents and mobile homes into Gaza.

Ahead of the storm, humanitarian workers and health officials warned of “catastrophic consequences” for displaced people if shelters are not allowed into Gaza.