+++ News in the Middle East War +++: Winter and the humanitarian crisis

The United Nations warns that the coming winter will further worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. More than two million people are in need of protection and assistance, while hundreds of thousands continue to live in tents and makeshift shelters, the UN and the Palestinian government said at a press conference in Ramallah.

Palestinian Social Development Minister Samah Hamad said 84 percent of the population was housed in overcrowded emergency shelters. More than 65 percent of the families lived in tents and makeshift accommodation.

More than 370,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. In addition, more than 65,000 tents and emergency shelters are at risk of flooding or have already been affected, said Hamad, citing UN information. Thousands of families continued to live in around 4,000 buildings at risk of collapse without having a safer alternative.

UN emergency relief coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov spoke of a crisis caused by human activity. Israeli import restrictions would have hindered winter preparations. Alakbarov called on Israel to lift restrictions on the import of urgently needed supplies and equipment. In addition, the population must be given access to additional areas in order to be able to move to safer accommodation. “We can’t waste any more time,” he said.

The Israeli military, however, said that in recent months it had pushed forward a plan to prepare for winter in coordination with the Peace Council and in cooperation with the United Nations, international organizations and donor countries. More than 91,000 tents and over 8,200 trucks with tarpaulins, blankets, winter clothing and other relief supplies have already been brought to the Gaza Strip. In addition, projects to improve water and sanitation supplies were pushed forward and the delivery of vaccines, mobile clinics, medicines and medical equipment were approved.

At the same time, it must be prevented that these measures to rebuild the capabilities of terrorist organizations are misused.

On October 7, 2023, fighters from Hamas and other extremist organizations killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 251 others as hostages to Gaza. The unprecedented attack sparked the Gaza War. Since then, more than 74,500 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. (dpa)

According to Houthi statements, Saudi Arabia has attacked the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the rebels, from the air. A gas station and a building belonging to the state oil company were hit, reported the Saba news agency run by the Houthis. Rescue workers are on duty to put out a fire at the gas station. A Saudi statement was initially not available. (rtr)

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed two rockets fired at the capital Riyadh by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Tuesday. The coalition said air defense shot down a ballistic missile and a cruise missile. A further statement also said that a ballistic missile fired at the southern region of the country had also been repelled. The south of Saudi Arabia, which borders Yemen, has repeatedly been the target of Houthi missile and drone attacks. (rtr)

A woman and three children died in the Gaza Strip when a sand hill slipped due to heavy rain. The incident occurred late on Sunday evening in the south of Deir al-Balah in the center of the coastal strip, medics said on Monday. The masses of water washed away an embankment made of sand and rubble that bordered a tent camp for war refugees. The three children were reportedly four, six and eight years old. Six other people were injured.

The accident highlights the danger that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the Gaza war face at the start of the rainy winter. According to local authorities, at least 70,000 tents have been flooded since the rains began on Saturday. A civil defense spokesman said building permanent shelters was the only solution because tents did not provide adequate protection. Israel is making the disarmament of the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas a condition for reconstruction. (rtr)