As temperatures soar in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian families who were forced to flee their homes under Israeli bombardment are now facing a new challenge – extreme heat.
Maryam Arafat, along with her husband and three young children, sought refuge in a ramshackle tent in Deir al Balah during the winter months. Now, with the blazing sun overhead, the same tent has become unbearable and suffocating.
“The tent feels like it’s on fire,” Ms. Arafat, 23, said. “It’s so hot you can’t bear it, especially with young children.” With temperatures reaching as high as 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit), the lack of shade and cooling resources has made life even more difficult for these families.
Scott Anderson, the deputy director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, emphasized the urgency of combating the spread of disease in these harsh conditions. With limited access to water and the influx of insects due to the warm weather, the risk of illness is heightened.
Fadwa Abu Waqfa, a mother of three living in a tent in Rafah, described the unbearable heat as beyond words. “We can’t sit outside and we can’t sit inside the tent,” she said. “It is so hard. It’s a heat that I can’t describe.”
As families struggle to stay cool and hydrated, the looming threat of even hotter temperatures in the coming months adds to their worries. Despite the challenges they face, they hold onto hope and pray for relief.
The harsh reality of living in makeshift tents under scorching heat highlights the ongoing struggles of Palestinian families in Gaza, who continue to endure the aftermath of conflict and displacement.
