Heavy rains over the past week have compounded the already dire living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies say. Unicef spokesman Jonathan Crickx told the BBC that the weather overnight had been horrendous, with the rain so intense that he had seen up to 15cm (6in) of water on the ground near his office.
He said he was extremely concerned that children living in tents and makeshift shelters in wet clothing would succumb to hypothermia and other illnesses. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said one baby has died from hypothermia and at least 11 other people have died in building collapses caused by the severe weather.
UN agencies have stepped up deliveries of tents, blankets and clothes since the Gaza ceasefire began nine weeks ago, but they have said there is still not enough aid getting in. Almost 55,000 families have so far been affected by the rains, with their belongings and shelters damaged.
The situation is compounded by reports of families trying to remove water from their makeshift shelters, with UNICEF announcing a tragic necessity for continued aid as temperatures drop.
Gaza's health ministry reported a two-week-old baby died of hypothermia, while additional fatalities from collapsed structures are ongoing due to weather-related conditions. The international community is urged to address the humanitarian crisis and assist in rebuilding efforts following long-standing conflicts in the region.
He said he was extremely concerned that children living in tents and makeshift shelters in wet clothing would succumb to hypothermia and other illnesses. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said one baby has died from hypothermia and at least 11 other people have died in building collapses caused by the severe weather.
UN agencies have stepped up deliveries of tents, blankets and clothes since the Gaza ceasefire began nine weeks ago, but they have said there is still not enough aid getting in. Almost 55,000 families have so far been affected by the rains, with their belongings and shelters damaged.
The situation is compounded by reports of families trying to remove water from their makeshift shelters, with UNICEF announcing a tragic necessity for continued aid as temperatures drop.
Gaza's health ministry reported a two-week-old baby died of hypothermia, while additional fatalities from collapsed structures are ongoing due to weather-related conditions. The international community is urged to address the humanitarian crisis and assist in rebuilding efforts following long-standing conflicts in the region.
