'We're afraid' - Displaced Palestinians seek refuge in damaged buildings, tents as winter storm wreaks havoc across Gaza

"Strong winds swept across the Gaza Strip on Monday, causing widespread damage and casualties among displaced residents as harsh weather conditions continued. Footage filmed on Tuesday shows tent sheets torn away by powerful gusts, with displaced families struggling to secure what remains of their shelters. Um Ahmad al-Hanawi, a displaced woman, described the fear she experienced overnight. "The wind was extremely strong, and stones began falling on us. We no longer have a tent, so we are now sitting exposed after losing our shelter," she said. "We didn't sleep at all last night because we were afraid the roof might collapse. Looking at the roof, we feel afraid. Where would we go?" she continued. Another displaced resident, Qusai Dardouneh, recalled the community's rescue attempts during the storm. "We rushed out of our tents and saw a 17-metre wall collapse onto people sheltering nearby. We tried to pull them out, but the rubble was very heavy. We managed to rescue some women and children," he explained. Gaza's Civil Defence said it recorded three deaths caused by partial collapses of unstable buildings amid the low-pressure system affecting the strip. The government media office in Gaza reported that around 7,000 tents were damaged over two days due to strong winds and severe weather. It added that the number of deaths caused by extreme cold since the start of winter has risen to seven children, while the total number of displaced victims since the beginning of the war has reached 24, including 21 children. Meanwhile, the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) said approximately 127,000 out of 135,000 tents are currently uninhabitable, citing severe shortages of blankets, bedding, and heating supplies. According to the agency, weather conditions are expected to worsen on Tuesday, with very cold, windy conditions and a further drop in temperatures to below seasonal averages."