Gaza / PNN /

 The spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, Mahmoud Basal, described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as “extremely dire,” as heavy rainfall continues for the second consecutive day.

In a press statement on Sunday, Basal explained that the rains “have caused entire areas of tents to flood,” citing the Zorqa and Yarmouk camps, as well as the area behind Al-Mamdan Hospital.

He added, “The displacement camps have been severely flooded, with water entering the shelters and causing significant damage. People are going through an extremely difficult period.”

The Civil Defense spokesperson warned that the disaster could worsen, noting that the amount of rainfall Gaza received today is minimal compared to what could occur during a deep or polar storm lasting a week.

Basal continued, “If the storms intensify, the Strip will face very severe damage, and we may record deaths due to the lack of basic living conditions,” stressing that “a tent does not protect against winter or rain and cannot be considered a safe place.”

Accordingly, Basal issued an urgent appeal, urging the world to “recognize the seriousness of what is happening in the Strip, which clearly violates humanitarian principles.”

He also called on international organizations to “fulfill their responsibilities by delivering tents without waiting until the end of the winter season.”

Basal further urged the world to acknowledge the additional risks facing Gaza, such as “flooded unstable buildings, cemeteries, and submerged bodies,” noting that all of this occurs “in the absence of even a single brick or bag of cement due to the siege and occupation policies.”