Inclement weather causes widespread losses in Gaza: civil defense

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Inclement weather causes widespread losses in Gaza: civil defense

2025-12-30 16:16 Last Updated At：12-31 15:03

Recent inclement weather affecting the Gaza Strip has caused significant casualties and widespread property damage, the region's Civil Defense announced Monday.

The authority's spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, said in a statement that due to the adverse weather, multiple habitable buildings in Gaza had completely collapsed.

Strong winds and heavy rains had also severely damaged temporary tents for displaced persons, with over 90 percent of tents either blown down or flooded, further exacerbating the survival challenges for local residents, it said.

The civil defense authority called on the international community to take immediate action and provide emergency assistance to the Gaza people. Hundreds of displacement tents have been damaged by strong winds and heavy rain across the enclave, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.

"My suffering began from the start of the war and continues until today. We have suffered from displacement, from winter and from the tents. Our tent was flooded during the previous weather depression, and again during this one. Every time it rains, we drown. My children and I try to dig channels to let the water out, but we still end up flooded," said Heba Hasanin, a displaced Palestinian.

"The weather system hit us suddenly last night. There were strong winds and heavy rain, and we were unable to put sand around the tent to keep it from being blown away. As you can see, the tent is just torn fabric, with water pouring in on us. We were truly in a very difficult situation," said Abd Abdulhadi, another displaced Palestinian.

Over the weekend, winter rains lashed the Gaza Strip, flooding displacement camps with ankle-deep water. Gaza's Health Authority said at least 12 people, including a two-week-old infant, have died from hypothermia or weather-related collapses.

Emergency workers have warned residents against staying in damaged buildings. But with much of the territory in rubble, few places remain to take cover from the rain.

Senior Chinese legislator meets European Parliament delegation

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations.