Ismail Al-Thawabteh, head of the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip, has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation with the arrival of a new weather depression, marked by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of flash floods and water accumulation across wide areas of the enclave.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Al-Thawabteh said the severe weather conditions come at a time when Gaza’s infrastructure is extremely fragile, as a result of the genocide and continuous destruction carried out by the Israeli enemy. He stressed that the likelihood of a full-scale humanitarian disaster is high under these circumstances.
Al-Thawabteh noted that government authorities, in coordination with partner institutions, have provided shelter to several families affected by the previous weather system, within the limits of available resources. He said these efforts were carried out despite acute shortages and the extensive destruction that has affected public facilities and infrastructure throughout the Gaza Strip.
He explained that shelter operations were conducted under tough conditions due to limited capabilities and the absence of basic supplies, adding that the situation of affected families remains complex as the aggression continues to disrupt all aspects of daily life.
According to Al-Thawabteh, a large number of families are still living in temporary shelters that lack the minimum requirements for a dignified life, exacerbating the suffering of displaced people, particularly children, women, and the elderly.
He also revealed widespread damage to infrastructure, including sewage networks and rainwater drainage systems, warning that this significantly increases health and environmental risks and raises the possibility of disease outbreaks if water accumulation persists.
Al-Thawabteh cautioned that the ability of relevant authorities to mount a comprehensive response remains severely limited due to the suffocating siege, the closure of crossings, and the continued ban on the entry of shelter materials and essential supplies, heightening the risk of a renewed humanitarian tragedy at any moment.
He called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to shoulder their moral and legal responsibilities by taking urgent action to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and ensure the entry of necessary materials to shelter affected families and protect them from escalating dangers.
The Gaza Strip has been facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis amid ongoing Israeli aggression, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and a comprehensive blockade that restricts the entry of fuel, construction materials, and basic relief supplies. Repeated displacement waves have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into overcrowded and poorly equipped shelters.
Seasonal weather systems, including heavy rain and strong winds, have repeatedly compounded the crisis, exposing the vulnerability of displaced families living in tents or damaged buildings. Local authorities and relief agencies warn that without the lifting of the blockade and the provision of emergency assistance, adverse weather conditions could rapidly trigger large-scale humanitarian and public health disasters in the besieged enclave.
