Board of Peace warned of a humanitarian emergency in Gaza due to flooding

Flooding turned the winter threat into an emergency

The Board of Peace on Monday warned of an escalating humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip after heavy seasonal flooding that lasted two days. According to the Board, water flooded tens of thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, leaving displaced families in the cold and in unsafe conditions.

Demands on Israel and Hamas

The Board said it had repeatedly warned of the risk of flooding and deteriorating conditions in shelters, and called on Israel to allow the entry of materials for temporary shelters, water and sewage infrastructure, waste management and drainage, as well as to honor its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh humanitarian protocol. While acknowledging that the Israeli government was considering steps, including through COGAT (the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), the Board described the response as

Connection to the implementation of the peace plan

According to the Board, delays in approvals and in fulfilling the commitments made in Sharm el-Sheikh have worsened the consequences of the foreseeable humanitarian challenge and significantly delayed the start of disarmament and the transfer of authority from Hamas to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The Board called on Hamas to fulfill its obligations under the plan, including disarmament and the transfer of authority, and urged the UN, its agencies and international donors to urgently coordinate the mobilization of resources for Gaza's winter needs. The Board warned that further delays would have serious consequences for the civilian population and the prospects for a durable peace, and that parties failing to meet their obligations would bear direct responsibility for the consequences.