Children's Lives at Risk as Heavy Winter Rains Flood Gaza Shelters
In the Gaza Strip, heavy rainfall and worsening winter conditions are deepening the suffering of displaced families, many of whom are living in fragile tents that offer little protection from the elements. UNICEF is working with partners to provide urgently needed emergency support for children caught in a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Children in Gaza face horrific winter storm conditions
Torrential rains have damaged and destroyed shelters, latrines and belongings in the Gaza Strip, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians who were already living in dire circumstances.
During the first weekend in November, three children aged 4, 5 and 8 were killed along with their mother when a sand dune collapsed onto their tent in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, after heavy rainfall.
These children and their mother were killed because they had nowhere safe to sleep. That is the reality in Gaza today. — UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
“These children and their mother were killed because they had nowhere safe to sleep. That is the reality in Gaza today,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Families are living without the most basic conditions for their safety, health and dignity. More children could die without proper shelter, working water and sanitation systems, and the equipment needed to restore essential services. The worst of winter is yet to come.”
The heavy rains have directly affected more than 106,000 people. An estimated 950,000 displaced people live in flood-exposed areas, including 400,000, almost half of whom are children, in locations at extremely high risk.
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UNICEF is clearing sewage and stormwater and distributing tarps, blankets and warm winter clothing
In the past week alone, UNICEF reached at least 10,000 children with winter clothing and thermal blankets, distributed tarpaulins to families whose tents have flooded, and cleared sewage and stormwater at more than 50 locations.
The emergency response is vital coupled with a long-term solution. Tents and tarpaulins offer little protection against severe storms, and damaged water and sanitation systems continue to put children’s health and lives at risk.
Learn more about UNICEF winter support for children in Gaza
A mess of mud, water and debris: children need protection now
Fuel and equipment shortages are hampering rescue efforts. UNICEF urgently calls on the Israeli authorities to allow the immediate entry of pumps, generators, spare parts and other materials needed to repair water and sanitation infrastructure, including the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin and the Sheikh Ejleen Wastewater Treatment Plant. At Sheikh Radwan pond in Gaza City, rainwater mixed with sewage risks overflowing, with only two of six pumps still working.
In addition to calling for the immediate entry of essential equipment to restore water and sanitation systems, UNICEF requires urgent funding for its $97.5 million winter response.
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