VIDEO 2 minutes Published on Jan 9, 2015 For the past three days, the coldest storm to hit the Middle East in decades has been pummeling the war-torn #Gaza Strip. With much of the Strips infrastructure significantly damaged or destroyed during Israel’s 51-day offensive this past summer, the heavy rains and cold winds pose major threats to the 1.8 million people living in the 25-mile-long coastal enclave, the majority of whom are Palestinian refugees. Local authorities declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, and for good reason, as hundreds of residents have already been forced to leave their homes due to flooding. That and rising sewage levels combined with a lack of shelter, clean water, fuel, and other necessities puts thousands of people in Gaza in serious risk. In addition, the blockade on Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt remains in place, with little allowed in for reconstruction and emergency response. In fact, with the receipt of only 1.8 percent of the 5 million tons of materials needed as of the end of 2014, it is predicted that it will take 20 years to rebuild Gaza if supplies resume entering at this pace. Due to the insufficient electricity and gas resources, many families are resorting to lighting fires and candles to keep warm and for light, causing major fires and, in one reported case, the deaths of two young children. https://youtube/watch?v=934e-01qbGE#t=25
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:16:04 +0000
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