Social Development Ministry in Gaza Warns of Catastrophic Fallout as Displaced Families' Tents Flood, Demands Entry of Caravans

The Ministry of Social Development in the Gaza Strip has warned of unprecedented catastrophic consequences after thousands of tents belonging to displaced people and shelter centres were flooded by winter weather depressions, stressing that this threatens the lives of thousands of families, especially children, orphans and households that have lost their breadwinner.

The ministry said that the occupation's moving of the so-called “Yellow Line” has doubled the shelter crisis by reducing the areas available for people to displace to and increasing overcrowding in the tents, further worsening the difficult humanitarian conditions endured by displaced families.

It called on international bodies and UN institutions to begin immediately implementing infrastructure projects and to allow in the equipment needed to repair networks and limit the repeated flooding of displacement areas, along with bringing in mobile homes, “caravans,” and ending reliance on fabric tents that can no longer provide protection from weather depressions.

The ministry urged the media to place the crisis of flooded tents and the conditions of the displaced at the top of their coverage priorities and to convey their suffering to the world, holding UN bodies and relief and international organisations responsible for the lives of the displaced and children, and demanding that the crossings be opened and safe, equipped shelter centres be established.