Two months after the ceasefire, the people of Gaza continue to face unimaginable difficulties. This week a devastating storm caused the flooding of thousands of tents and the collapse of buildings.
BLOOM continues to provide mental health support, food, and water – and is also supporting the people of Gaza with distribution of warm blankets, jackets, and reinforcement of their tents as the temperatures drop and rain floods Gaza. Below we are sharing the full report from our local team in Gaza.
Report on the Impact of the Storm and Heavy Rains on Displaced Persons in the Gaza Strip:
A powerful storm, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, swept through the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation for displaced persons in camps and shelters.
Despite the harsh weather conditions, Bloom Foundation initiatives, in partnership with HayaWashington , continued their humanitarian work without interruption, exerting maximum effort to mitigate the storm’s impact on the lives of displaced persons.
Operations during the Storm
• Relief activities and essential services continued despite the heavy rain and cold.
• There was a limited and temporary delay in food distribution due to the heavy rain, and distribution resumed as soon as weather conditions improved.
• In the Al Sadaqa Camp, sponsored by Bloom Charity, some tents experienced rainwater leaks, but the situation did not reach a level that posed an immediate threat to the safety of the displaced persons.
• As a result of the low temperatures and strong winds, a number of children in the camp contracted colds.
Emergency Interventions and Field Efforts
• The field team carried out maintenance and repair work on a number of tents.
• Damaged tents were covered with plastic sheeting, and their weak points were reinforced.
• These interventions directly contributed to preventing drownings within the Al Sadaqa Camp and reducing potential damage.
Human and Humanitarian Losses in Displacement Camps (Gaza Strip Level)
• 11 people were killed as a result of the collapse of buildings previously damaged by bombing, with one person missing.
• 13 houses collapsed in the Gaza Strip governorates.
• More than 53,000 tents were flooded or damaged, including 27,000 tents that were completely swept away.
• More than 250,000 displaced persons were directly affected out of approximately 1.5 million displaced persons.
Most Affected Sectors
• Shelter and Tents: Loss of insulation materials, blankets, mattresses, and cooking utensils. • Infrastructure and Roads: Hundreds of roads were washed away, disrupting ambulance and civil defense operations.
• Water and Sanitation: Water sources were contaminated, cesspools collapsed, and health risks increased.
• Food: Aid and food supplies for thousands of families were damaged.
• Agriculture: Farmland and greenhouses were flooded, and hundreds of families lost their sources of income.
• Health Sector: Mobile medical points were damaged, and medicines and first aid supplies were lost.
• Energy Sector: Batteries and solar panels used for alternative lighting were damaged.
Conclusion
The rapid field response of the Bloom Charity initiatives, in partnership with the HayaWashington, proved crucial in mitigating the impact of the storm, particularly in the Al Sadaqa Camp. However, the extent of the damage across the Gaza Strip underscores the urgent need to strengthen emergency interventions and provide shelter and protection supplies in anticipation of any future storms.”
