RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 100,000 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since last year on October 7. Before the war started by Israel, the Gaza Strip had a population of approximately 2.2 million people; however, up to 1.9 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced since October 7, 2023. The displaced Palestinians had to take shelter in the western and southern areas of Gaza; mostly have been forced to set up tents on beaches.

The camps in Rafah and Khan Younis hosting displaced Palestinians have been targeted by Israeli strikes, said Suha Abu Shaban, a geological engineer in Gaza, calling for action to be taken for tents set up on beaches with the arrival of winter.

 Israeli attacks have become systematic, she added. “These attacks target civilian infrastructure and houses in the southern Gaza Strip, displacing Palestinians multiple times. This situation causes a serious shelter problem. With the arrival of winter, Palestinians, who have set up tents on beaches face many risks such as floods, erosion and sewer overflows containing debris.

Urgent steps should be taken before a disaster occurs

Calling on the displaced Palestinians to set up tents at least 5 meters away from the coastline, Suha Abu Shaban said, “If they do not set up their tents away from beaches, they will face disaster. I call on the municipality to take urgent steps for displaced people before a disaster occurs. If any steps are not taken, displaced people will face floods, erosion and sewer overflows containing debris.”

Speaking about the level of wastewater accumulated at the Sheikh Radwan pond, designed for rainwater collection in the northern Gaza Strip, she said, “The level has reached 70% which threatens to overflow once it rains. The municipality must take an urgent step about this issue. Due to the lack of fuel and equipment, the municipality will not be able to remove water once it rains. The displaced people taking shelter on beaches also face a wave of diseases due to the lack of medicines.”

Underlining that the municipality calls on displaced people in the north and south of the Gaza Strip to stay away from the beaches along the coast of the Gaza Strip and evacuate the areas near the sea, Suha Abu Shaban also called for a ceasefire and support from international human rights organizations.