Gaza families face freezing winter as rains flood makeshift camps

Plummeting winter temperatures and torrential rains have flooded makeshift shelters across Gaza City, leaving thousands of displaced Palestinian families struggling under torn plastic tarpaulins without warm clothes or blankets.

In a camp west of the city, 27-year-old Amira Saad lives with 18 family members after being displaced from the Shujayea neighbourhood. Recent heavy rains inundated their shelter, soaking their only mattresses and bedding. Amira recounted borrowing a garment from a neighbour to protect her four-month-old infant son from freezing night temperatures.

With no income and relying on community kitchens for food, families cannot afford winter clothing or medicine. Amira’s 60-year-old mother-in-law, Basima Saad, shared fears for her disabled daughter whose hands turn ice cold, while her husband recently broke his hand while clearing rubble for work.

Source: Al Jazeera