Gaza Herald – The Gaza Strip Civil Defense announced on Saturday that it has received 2166 distress calls since the onset of a significant weather low affecting the territory. These appeals came from citizens, displacement camp administrations, shelter centers, and affected families seeking urgent assistance as heavy rains caused widespread flooding across the region.
According to the agency’s statement, its teams were able to respond to only 218 of these requests. The vast majority of calls remained unfulfilled due to the sheer volume of emergencies combined with limited available resources and a critical shortage of specialized rescue equipment necessary for water-related incidents.
The Civil Defense declared a maximum state of emergency on Friday to manage the consequences of the weather system and save endangered households. It explained that intense rainfall submerged dozens of displacement camps, shelter centers, and entire residential areas. In some locations, water levels reached approximately one and a half meters, rendering many structures inaccessible and dangerous for inhabitants.
Rescue teams, cooperating with municipalities and relevant authorities, managed to handle a small number of cases. However, they were forced to limit their actions to providing guidance to families threatened by flooding because they could not reach all affected zones. The agency highlighted that the impact of this first weather low reveals the scale of the humanitarian disaster facing the population.
Warnings were issued regarding greater risks as winter storms continue, especially with meteorological forecasts predicting a rainy season. The Civil Defense renewed its call for pressure on the occupation to allow the entry of necessary rescue machinery and vehicles. It also demanded the import of tents, plastic sheets, and mobile homes to shelter displaced persons.
Furthermore, the agency stressed the need for fuel supplies to ensure its teams can respond effectively to future distress calls. It appealed to the guarantor countries of the ceasefire agreement and the National Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip for immediate intervention to save citizens from the worsening conditions.
The warning emphasized the danger of entering winter without minimum protection and shelter provisions. This situation persists amidst the widespread destruction left by the ongoing war, which has severely compromised the infrastructure needed to withstand seasonal weather challenges in the coastal enclave.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
