The foreign ministers from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan issued a joint statement on Friday, in which they warned that the situation in Gaza is getting worse and up to 1.9 million displaced Palestinians are utterly unprotected. The winter storms have turned the already difficult conditions in the area into a humanitarian crisis and, in fact, the deadliest. The statement described the abysmal situation by saying, “Camps are flooded, tents are damaged, buildings are collapsing, and exposure to freezing temperatures, besides malnutrition, have all contributed to a significant increase in the risk of death among civilians.” With heavy rain flooding camps and very cold weather, the foreign ministers pointed out that immediate measures are necessary to save and protect civilians who are caught between the warring sides and also suffering from the harsh weather conditions.
Call To Lift Restrictions On Essential Supplies
The ministers urged the international community to press Israel to immediately remove restrictions on the entry and distribution of essential supplies, including tents, shelter materials, medical aid, clean water, fuel, and sanitation items, according to Al Jazeera.
Aid Commitments Under Ceasefire Not Met
Despite obligations under international law and a US-mediated ceasefire agreement that began in October requiring the entry of hundreds of aid trucks daily, Israel has continued to limit humanitarian access to Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinian families are currently sheltering in temporary structures and overcrowded tent camps after their homes were destroyed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign, Al Jazeera reported.
Deaths Reported Amid Heavy Rains and Freezing Temperatures
In recent weeks, several people have died due to collapsed buildings caused by flooding, while children have succumbed to hypothermia as freezing temperatures persist across the enclave.
Separately, Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and injured several others on Friday in an area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
(With Inputs From ANI)