Injuries with a wall collapse on the tents of the displaced

Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continue, with the death toll since the ceasefire was declared in October 2015 rising to 691 martyrs and 1,876 wounded, in addition to the recovery of 756 bodies.

Israeli artillery continued shelling eastern neighborhoods in the southern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, coinciding with airstrikes, gunfire, and house demolitions. This occurred amidst a tightened siege and limited operation of the Rafah crossing, which remains under Israeli control in both directions.

Two people were injured when a wall collapsed onto tents of displaced people near the center of Gaza City due to heavy rains and winds associated with the storm.

Civil Defense reported that the two injuries occurred near the Abu Assi station on Al-Wahda Street in the city center.

The storm, which battered the Gaza Strip throughout Thursday night and into the day, exacerbated the suffering of thousands of displaced families across the region. Rainwater seeped into the temporary shelters and the cloth and plastic tents, which lack the most basic protection from the elements, forcing the displaced people to spend the night trying to drain the water and protect their remaining belongings.

Families, especially children and the elderly, are facing dire health and environmental conditions due to the bitter cold and the accumulation of mud and stagnant water around their tent encampments, amidst a severe shortage of heating, winter clothing, and waterproof tents.

The Civil Defense warned of the dangers posed by the ongoing storm to displaced people, calling for the urgent provision of shelter supplies, including waterproof and windproof tents, to mitigate the worsening of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. They also urged residents to take necessary safety precautions against the strong winds and heavy rains.