Storm Byron Intensifies in Gaza, Deepening Humanitarian Crisis (Lazzarini)
A powerful weather system known as Storm Byron has intensified over the Gaza Strip, worsening the already dire conditions for displaced residents, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said.
Writing on social media, Lazzarini said “Storm Byron has Gaza in its grip,” and warned that the harsh weather is compounding the suffering of people who have already lost everything. He noted that heavy rains and strong winds have brought new hardship to families sheltering in flimsy, makeshift tents after years of conflict.
The UNRWA chief said the storm has brought “more hardship for displaced families living in makeshift shelters with rain bringing floods, damage and additional health threats,” as thousands of tents and temporary structures have been swamped by flooding.
Lazzarini highlighted the work of UNRWA teams, many of whom are themselves displaced, saying they continue to support affected families. According to UNRWA’s statement, staff are draining sewage and floodwater, clearing garbage, distributing tarpaulins, winter clothing and blankets, and providing urgent medical care despite challenging conditions.
Heavy rainfall since Wednesday has inundated immense numbers of tent camps across Gaza, soaking bedding, clothing and food, and leaving hundreds of families exposed to cold temperatures without adequate shelter. The storm is expected to persist through Friday evening, raising further fears of humanitarian deterioration in the already devastated territory.
Local reports underscore the severity of the situation, with at least one displaced infant dying from exposure after rainwater flooded her family’s tent in Khan Younis, illustrating the desperate impact of the storm on vulnerable populations.
