Civil defense in Gaza: 30,000 buildings at risk of collapse as storm approaches
The Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip warned that approximately 30,000 buildings in the Strip are at risk of collapse, posing a threat to the lives of some 150,000 residents.
The Director of Supply and Logistics at the Civil Defense, Muhammad al-Mughair, stated on Saturday that more than 30 homes have collapsed in recent days, resulting in the deaths of 18 people. This reflects the worsening of the housing and humanitarian crisis, according to the Sanad News Agency.
This comes as the Strip is experiencing a polar storm accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians living in tents and shelters lacking basic necessities.
Al-Mughair explained that the dangers include direct collapses as well as unseen hazards resulting from minor tremors caused by missile strikes targeting infrastructure, which have created cavities beneath buildings.
He added that these gaps and cracks, resulting from the military robot explosions, have weakened the reinforced concrete foundations and now threaten the collapse of buildings, especially with the infiltration of rainwater.
He warned of a severe shortage of civil defense equipment and fuel needed to respond to the disaster, calling on relevant authorities, particularly the Egyptian committee, to support them with heavy machinery and specialized equipment.
Al-Mughair emphasized that civil defense warnings to evacuate threatened homes have not received sufficient response due to the lack of suitable alternative shelters to protect residents from the harsh weather.
Al-Mughair indicated that the continuation of the current situation could lead to further collapses and casualties during the winter, calling on the international community to provide temporary housing and begin the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip immediately.
He noted that more than a quarter of a million displaced people have been affected by the storms, living in tents and shelters that lack even the most basic protection, according to data from the Government Media Office in Gaza.