Gaza under heavy rainfall – protest asking for immediate ceasefire to save life


For the last 13 months pro-palestinian groups organizes protest very couple of weeks in Montreal. They are asking for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to save life. Saturday they marched downtown Montreal. 

Meanwhile, according to reports from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding across displacement sites in Gaza, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.

The OCHA UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday that overnight rains damaged tents and belongings in Khan Younis and Gaza City, where many displaced families are sheltering.

“OCHA and our humanitarian partners have been carrying out field visits in multiple areas to assess the impact of the latest rains and to mobilize response efforts. Our partners estimate that about 1.6 million people live in makeshift shelters across Gaza,” he told reporters at the regular news briefing in New York.

Recent months have seen critical preparations for the rainy season hindered by restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, with humanitarian partners having identified about 100 flood-prone areas hosting more than 450,000 men, women, and children in Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and the Rafah area.

“At nearly all of these sites, local groups are supporting with preparations for potential rains and floods. For example, sandbags have been installed at 20 sites. However, for 90 per cent of the areas assessed by our partners, there are no workable contingency plans if flooding were to render the sites uninhabitable,” Mr. Dujarric added.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, dozens of families have been displaced following evacuation orders issued on Saturday by Israeli authorities. The affected areas, including Zeitoun and Turkuman Al Jadeda, cover approximately two square kilometres.

Additionally, in North Gaza governorate, Kamal Adwan Hospital has come under repeated attack over the past 48 hours, adding to the strain on Gaza’s fragile healthcare system.

The strikes caused 14 additional injuries, including to the hospital’s director and a small group of remaining medical staff, Mr. Dujarric said.

Source: UN News

Anne Farrell