Storm ‘Byron’ leaves some 235,000 affected by the collapse of buildings and damage to tents in Gaza

Around 235,000 people have been affected by the collapse of buildings, temporary shelters and tents due to the passage of the polar storm ‘Byron’ through the Gaza Strip, plunged into a serious humanitarian crisis due to the offensive launched by the Israeli Army after the attacks of October 7, 2023.

The United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has stated that 17 buildings have collapsed and 42,000 tents and temporary shelters have been totally or partially damaged between December 10 and 17, incidents that have also left several dead.

“Months of war and displacement forced the population of Gaza to live among collapsed ruins, in improvised shelters or in precarious tents,” he said on his account on the social network

The Gaza authorities, controlled by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), have indicated this Monday that in the last few hours another person has died due to the collapse of a building, bringing the number of deaths in this type of events after the passage of ‘Byron’ to 17.

The Gaza Ministry of Health has highlighted in its Telegram account that, in addition, a two-month-old baby has died due to the “extreme cold”, bringing the number of deaths from these causes to three.

Likewise, he noted that since the beginning of Israel’s offensive, 71,266 deaths and 171,222 injuries have been confirmed, including 414 deaths and 1,145 injuries since October 10, when a ceasefire with Israel came into effect. In this period, 680 bodies have also been recovered in areas from which Israeli troops withdrew.