Between Israeli attacks and winter cold, helpless Gazans struggle to survive

Surviving relentless Israeli attacks for the past 15 months, displaced Palestinian civilians are now struggling to stay alive amid freezing winter cold in the Gaza Strip.

“The humanitarian situation of the displaced is tragic,” Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna told Anadolu. “They have no means of heating, fuel, clothing or blankets, and no permanent solutions to improve their living conditions.”

Civilians have been under a brutal Israeli war since 7 October, 2023. Almost 45,600 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and at least 108,400 others have been wounded. Tel Aviv has also imposed a stifling blockade on the enclave, leaving the territory’s entire population on the verge of famine.

A cold wave and torrential rains have worsened conditions for the helpless civilians, leaving them struggling to live in their worn-out tents in displacement camps. According to the local health authorities, at least seven people, including six babies, have frozen to death over the past week in Gaza.

“The harsh winter weather exacerbates the suffering of the displaced, and rainwater soaks their belongings and exposes them to severe cold,” said Muhanna.

READ: Over 1,500 tents housing displaced Gazans inundated by rainwater

He added that the massive destruction of the sewage and rainwater drainage networks caused by Israel is making matters even worse for displaced civilians.

“The Israeli army destroyed about 175,000 linear metres of sewage networks and 15,000 linear metres of rainwater networks amid a blockade on fuel and electricity supplies,” Muhanna explained. “This has all caused sewage and rainwater to flood dozens of homes and shelters amid our limited capabilities to deal with the situation because of the lack of equipment and basic materials, and Israel’s refusal to allow access to the necessary equipment and machinery.”

The Palestinian spokesman warned of possible flooding from the Sheikh Radwan rainwater collection site in northern Gaza City. “This could constitute another humanitarian disaster unless supplies for the restoration of the destroyed pond facilities, including an electric generator, repair of its pumps and the water drainage line to the sea, are supplied immediately.”

He said that the municipal authorities are working with limited capabilities amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. “Gaza needs a real humanitarian stance. The crisis goes beyond temporary solutions and requires an urgent response that guarantees a decent life for the displaced and all residents.”

The local official called for an immediate halt to the Israeli war, the opening of Gaza’s border crossings, and access to relief and humanitarian aid as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Civil Defence Service said yesterday that heavy rains have inundated 1,542 tents housing displaced civilians in the Gaza Strip in the past two days.

READ: Rats adding further risk to the lives of Palestinians in Gaza

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