Gaza Storm: Winter Worsens Plight of Displaced Palestinians

This is Democracy Now! democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh.

We turn now to Gaza, where winter storm Byron battered displaced Palestinians with heavy rain and freezing temperatures overnight. Tents and makeshift shelters where soaked and flooded, or washed away entirely. In khan Younis, an 8-month-old baby girl, Rahaf Abu Jazar, died from hypothermia. As the day broke, families faced soaked belongings and lakes of mud and sewage. This is Sami Yassin, a father and amputee, speaking to Al Jazeera.

SAMI YASSIN: [translated] It poured all night, and we were flooded. I couldn’t move out, as I have an amputated arm and shrapnel in my leg, and I can’t wade in the water. I started shouting and asking people to help get my children out, but they couldn’t. The food was spoiled, and the tent’s canopy got blown away. I don’t know what to do.

We’re joined now by Moureen Kaki, head of mission for GLIA International. She’s been in Gaza for well over a year.

Welcome back to Democracy Now! It’s great to have you with us. If you can describe the situation on the ground right now?

MOUREEN FEET: Thank you for having me back.

Right now we are seeing intense rains on the ground. People’s tents are being either washed away or flooded entirely.People have no respite from this cold, from the wind, from the rain itself. I’m here in Mawasi, Khan Younis, on the bea