Gaza / PNN /

 The Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Sunday that the health situation in the Strip remains catastrophic despite the ceasefire agreement, noting that recently established medical points have gone out of service due to heavy rainfall and tents being blown away by the storm.

Ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Dakran said in a statement that “the health situation in the Gaza Strip remains disastrous due to Israel’s failure to comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement.”

He explained that Israel continues to prevent “the entry of medicines and medical supplies into the Strip, in addition to preventing the wounded and injured from traveling abroad for treatment.”

According to the Government Media Office and Hamas, Israel has been evading its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, particularly those related to the humanitarian protocol and the entry of food, medical, and relief aid trucks.

The health official noted that Israel has prevented 16,500 patients and injured individuals from leaving Gaza to receive treatment abroad, despite having all necessary documents and medical referrals ready.

He added that the medical points (tent clinics) that were established to provide health services to citizens have gone out of service “due to the heavy rain and tents being blown away by strong winds.”

Al-Dakran called on the international community to intervene immediately and expedite the entry of tents, mobile homes, and construction materials into the Gaza Strip.

He did not specify the full extent of the damage to the tents and medical points across the Strip caused by flooding and the collapse or dispersal of some tents due to rain and wind.

Since Friday, the Palestinian territories have been affected by a weather depression accompanied by cold air, rain, and winds, which has caused thousands of displaced people’s tents in various areas of Gaza to flood. The weather service expects the depression to subside Sunday evening.

Al-Dakran also warned of the risk of further disease and epidemic spread with the arrival of winter and the absence of safe shelter for displaced people.

He noted that these risks increase due to contamination resulting from “the mixing of wastewater with drinking water.”

Municipalities in the Gaza Strip have repeatedly warned of the danger of water contamination due to the mixing of groundwater with sewage, in addition to pollution caused by the accumulation of waste in makeshift dumps across the Strip.