Storm damages thousands of tents in Gaza, raising fears of 'humanitarian catastrophe'

Thousands of tents for displaced families across Gaza were damaged or blown away as a powerful winter storm battered the enclave, worsening already dire living conditions and fuelling fears of a deepening humanitarian disaster, Gaza’s Civil Defence said. Mahmoud Basal, Civil Defence spokesperson, said on Saturday that strong winds and heavy rain caused widespread destruction to temporary shelters housing displaced Palestinians, particularly along Gaza’s coastline, where tents were ripped apart or swept away by gusts reaching up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour).