The United Nations has called on Israel to immediately lift its restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as extreme winter weather has worsened an already devastating situation in the region.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, warned that the people of Gaza are enduring severe weather conditions acerbating humanitarian crisis.
In a post on X, Fletcher said, “Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from the cold and rain. The situation is becoming even more desperate as floodwaters rise, destroying what little they have left.”
Fletcher emphasized that while the UN and its partners are mobilizing to provide aid, the need is far greater than the resources available. He urged Israel to urgently lift the remaining restrictions on the flow of humanitarian assistance to allow more aid to reach the people in Gaza.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, addressed the situation in a press briefing, confirming that UN teams are continuing to distribute essential supplies like tents, blankets, and other relief items to families affected by the heavy rains in Gaza.
Haq also noted that the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has allocated $18 million from the humanitarian fund for the occupied Palestinian territories to support urgent relief efforts in Gaza.
The severe weather conditions, including torrential rains and winter storms, have further aggravated the already harsh living conditions in Gaza. Thousands of displaced people have been left without shelter as their tents have flooded.
In recent days, heavy rain and strong winds have caused widespread flooding across Gaza, submerging thousands of tents that house displaced families. Many of these individuals had already lost their homes to Israeli airstrikes during the ongoing conflict.
