The United Nations has reported that more than 17,000 Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip were affected by heavy rainfall that struck the devastated region over the past several days.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the UN warned that children in Gaza are sleeping in the rain without proper clothing, with many suffering from malnutrition and weakened immunity.
The organization attributed the worsening conditions to the widespread destruction of Gaza’s essential infrastructure, stating that Israeli attacks have left the territory unable to withstand severe weather.
Damage to sewage systems, roads, and vital facilities has deepened daily suffering, especially among displaced families living in makeshift shelters.
The UN added that the downpour destroyed thousands of tents housing displaced civilians, forcing even more families into exposure, and depriving them of temporary shelter amid freezing temperatures.
The statement stressed the urgent need to allow humanitarian aid and technical equipment into Gaza to repair damaged infrastructure, particularly water and sanitation networks.
It is worth mentioning that a Palestinian woman and her child were seriously injured on Wednesday morning after an Israeli drone strike targeted them near the “Shireen Abu Aqleh” roundabout in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Since the start of the genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the total number of Palestinians killed has risen to at least 69,483, the majority of them women and children. The number of injuries has climbed to 170,706, while many victims remain trapped under rubble, unreachable by emergency crews due to ongoing bombardment and lack of equipment.
