Gaza suffers $ 64 million in losses after winter storm

The Hamas-led Government in the Gaza Strip has confirmed the Strip has sustained nearly $ 64 million in losses following the winter storm that had hit the Strip and countries in the region. Local rescue teams managed to help the citizens, despite an acute lack of resources caused by the Israeli siege of the coastal enclave.

Gaza’s Minister of Public Works and Housing, Yousef Al Ghareer, said during a press conference on Saturday evening that “nearly seven thousand families (42,000 individuals) have been displaced from their homes. The government has placed 900 families in 19 rescue shelters, while the remainder are relocated to stay with relatives and friends.”

Ghareer said “our initial estimates indicate that over 3,300 homes have been flooded and 1,000 houses sustained damages. The damages are estimated at $ 40 million. The damages to the infrastructure which includes roads, water networks, sanitation, electricity and telecommunications networks amounted to $ 12 million. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 shops and industrial facilities have sustained an estimated loss of $ 3 million in damages. The agricultural sector which includes; poultry, livestock, fish and vegetables have also sustained $7 million in damages”.