Rafah needs 40,000 tents, urgent shelter for residents in stricken city, says mayor

The Mayor of Rafah has appealed to international organisations and authorities for immediate intervention to supply 40,000 tents and shelter units for the residents of the city in southern Gaza, who have found themselves homeless after the massive destruction of their homes due to the Israeli genocide, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported.

Ahmed Al-Sufi said today that the humanitarian situation in Rafah is catastrophic, with tens of thousands of citizens sleeping in the open in harsh weather. Rain and strong winds have exacerbated their suffering and uprooted the tattered tents in which they had taken refuge.

Initial calculations suggest that about 90 per cent of the housing units in the city have been destroyed, with around 52,000 housing units damaged.

The mayor explained that Rafah is no longer able to accommodate residents in the absence of sustainable housing solutions. “We need an urgent international response to save the residents from the dangers of homelessness, famine and disease,” he warned.

Al-Sufi concluded by urging all international and humanitarian organisations to fulfil their moral and legal responsibilities towards the residents of Rafah and to work on providing basic shelter necessities, ensuring a minimum standard of dignified living for the displaced who are enduring unprecedented, tragic conditions.

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