The frigid winds blew away our tents in the Gaza Strip. There, hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless in a two-week-old ceasefire.
The Palestinians on the territory are enduring the second cold, damp winter since Israel’s war with Gaza began in October 2023.
Strong winds and rains have made the people suffer, and thousands of families live in worn-out tents after the bombings destroyed their homes.
Since the ceasefire took effect last month, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza and suspended Israel’s 15-month attack. However, most people have found their homes to be destroyed or severely damaged.
The family then struggles to find shelter among the mounds of debris and destruction that cross the besieged enclave.
Authorities have called for temporary shelters to be allowed, calling it the most pressing humanitarian needs.
“In spite of the tragedy, we are staying under the roof despite the rain and bad weather,” Qassem Abu Hassoun told Al Jazeera.
“It means people are hanging in their own country, their land. People even hang out in a grain of sand.”
Anwar Helis called the struggle “more difficult for us than displacement.”
“We woke up at night and found out that our tents were destroyed on top of us as the wind, clothes and food were filled with sand,” he said.
In a report from Gaza city, Hani Mahmoud of Al Jazeera said the weather forced many Palestinians to leave their makeshift camp in the western part of the city.
Basic equipment such as warm clothing is also not widely available.
“The people here lack shelter, but they are also very important supplies that provide warmth and protection,” Mahmoud said.
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