The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, has declared state of emergency in Gaza City, following extreme weather and severe flooding over the past two days. Hundreds of residents in the flooded areas around the Sheikh Radwan storm water lagoon have evacuated their homes. Luckily, no casualties or injuries have been reported.
63 schools in Gaza City are closed as a precautionary measure, and 43 more schools in the North Area of the Strip are also now closed.
"We are very concerned about such severe storms this early in the season and on the back of unprecedented damage and destruction caused by the recent conflict,” Robert Turner, UNRWA’s Director of Operations in Gaza
Such devastation exacerbates the already poor humanitarian situation for refugees and non-refugees in Gaza, which is dealing with the aftermath of a recent conflict, and an acute fuel and energy crisis. In December 2013, the fiercest winter storm brought torrential rains and widespread flooding that displaced thousands.
