Chilly weather makes war-torn Gaza uninhabitable, warns UN human rights official
Gaza (Quds News Network) – The already dire situation in the Gaza Strip has worsened with the onset of cold and stormy winter weather, leaving the besieged enclave on the brink of being “completely uninhabitable,” warned Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN human rights department responsible for overseeing Gaza and the West Bank.
Nearly four months of relentless Israeli war have taken a devastating toll on Gaza’s infrastructure and housing, exacerbating the challenges faced by the population. Sunghay expressed deep concern about the impact of the rainy and cold weather, emphasizing that it was entirely predictable at this time of the year.
“I fear that many more civilians will die,” Sunghay stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “Most have no warm clothes or blankets. Northern Gaza, where IDF bombardment continues, is barely accessible, even to provide basic humanitarian aid.”
Statistics released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reveal the alarming extent of the damage inflicted on Gaza. Over the past hundred days, 290,000 residential units have suffered damage due to the Israeli military’s ground, air, and naval bombardment. Of these, 65,000 homes have been destroyed, rendering them uninhabitable, while an additional 25,010 structures have been leveled to the ground.
The onslaught has not spared essential infrastructure, with 145 mosques and three churches destroyed. Thirty hospitals are incapacitated, and 26 others sustained damage. Furthermore, 121 ambulances have been destroyed or forced out of service.
As a result, estimates indicate that approximately 1.93 million citizens, constituting 85% of Gaza’s population, are now internally displaced. Many have experienced multiple displacements in their desperate search for safety. The combination of ongoing conflict and harsh winter conditions poses an unprecedented challenge to the international community, requiring urgent intervention to alleviate the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
