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.
Inclement weather causes widespread losses in Gaza: civil defense
Inclement weather causes widespread losses in Gaza: civil defense
Inclement weather causes widespread losses in Gaza: civil defense
A military expert said that the latest live-fire exercises around Taiwan Island, code-named "Justice Mission 2025," are marked by immediate engagement in live-fire drills, a multidimensional blockade strategy, and unified control over Taiwan and surrounding waters.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), outlined four significant highlights of the ongoing drills, which began on Monday.
"The most striking highlight is the immediate engagement in live-fire drills from the outset. In previous exercises, while we conducted live-fire drills, there were times when such drills were absent, which was normal depending on varying exercise requirements. In this exercise, our military, including Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops, rapidly deployed capabilities around Taiwan's northern, southeastern, and eastern areas, followed by live-fire exercises. Our artillery featured simulated strikes on moving targets at sea and on land. This is a significant highlight, showcasing our troops' readiness for battle at all times, their capability for combat at all times, and their assurance of victory, and their capability to seamlessly transition from training to combat," he said.
"The second highlight, which is also a central theme of this exercise, is the multidimensional blockade and control strategy. All branches of our military, including the Coast Guard, implemented multidimensional blockade and control measures at crucial ports and regions of Taiwan. According to the latest updates from the Eastern Theater Command this morning, these measures continue be to a vital part of today's exercises. For instance, the designation of two areas in northern Taiwan aims to execute control around the important Keelung Port, while in the southeast, the blockade targets Kaohsiung and the Zuoying maritime and airspace routes, effectively cutting off key ports, areas and military bases critical to Taiwan separatist forces, thereby establishing a 'closing the door to beat the dog' strategy," Meng said.
"The third highlight is that, from yesterday to today, the Fujian Coast Guard has engaged in law enforcement operation near Taiwan Island and surrounding waters, including attached islets, establishing unified control over these areas. This represents a new breakthrough. I particularly noticed that the areas under control have expanded, according to several pieces of information released by the Coast Guard yesterday, including a poster depicting the extent of our multidimensional control yesterday. Under one-China principle, this reaffirms China's sovereignty and security while underscoring the inviolability of our territory," he said.
"The fourth highlight is the demonstration of coordinated operations among the various units participating in the exercises. This included maritime assaults, ground strikes, air defense and anti-submarine operations, validating the strong combat capabilities of our military," the expert added.
Military expert shares key highlights of PLA live-fire drills
