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Israel prepares for Storm Byron as it restricts aid to Gaza
Israel has restricted the entry into Gaza of what it says are “dual-use” goods, including iron poles to set up tents. Meanwhile, it has been preparing to face Storm Byron, issuing one alert after another and advising residents – especially in coastal cities in the south – to take precautions.
These are cities that are not damaged, and where there are emergency response teams with a plan in place that can help people evacuate if needed. Nonetheless, there is concern that this storm is going to be very heavy.
The worst downpour is expected to take place Thursday into Friday, and yet preparations began more than 24 hours ago.
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank preparing themselves for loss: MSF
A psychologist working with Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, has described how the rising sense of insecurity and fear experienced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is impacting their mental wellbeing.
“Fear is everywhere, and this time it is paralysing people. Palestinians aren’t just worried: they’re preparing themselves for loss,” the psychologist, who requested anonymity, said.
“Instead of planning for their own or their children’s future, many are focusing on imagining the least painful way to die. A death that comes at once, and one that spares anyone from being left behind,” they added.
“There is a growing sense that something terrible is coming, but no one knows exactly when or how. It’s a collective awareness; a quiet, ever-present anxiety.”
As a consequence, MSF clinics are seeing a noticeable increase in symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gaza bracing for ‘very tragic situation’ as storm approaches
The population of Gaza is bracing for a “very tragic situation” as a major winter storm is set to hit amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on the entry of shelter equipment, Oxfam humanitarian response adviser Chris McIntosh told Al Jazeera.
“Persistent bureaucracy prevented us from bringing in adequate dwellings for people in Gaza,” McIntosh said. “The Israelis have not permitted tents to enter Gaza for many months. The only thing they’re allowing at this point is some tarpaulin, which isn’t going to do much for people who need proper shelter.”
The adviser said Palestinians were being forced to live in “deplorable conditions”. Well over 50 percent of the population is living in tents, and many people will attempt to find dry ground inside bombed-out buildings that are at heightened risk of collapse due to forecast heavy rains and winds, he said.
McIntosh added that flooding would also make it harder to separate drinking water from wastewater and increase the spread of waterborne diseases.
