GAZA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A child and a woman were killed in a severe storm affecting the Gaza Strip, the region's Civil Defense announced Sunday.
The authority's spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, said in a press release that a seven-year-old child died after falling into a well, while a 30-year-old woman was killed by a collapsing wall during heavy wind and rain.
Civil Defense teams have responded to dozens of rainwater-flooded tents, assisting residents in pumping out water and clearing drains, Basal said.
Nizar Ayyash, mayor of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, said most displacement camps in the city have become muddy swamps, as the municipality lacks the resources and equipment to provide adequate assistance.
Meanwhile, the region's emergency operations room said the Gaza Strip urgently needs around 200,000 prefabricated housing units to meet immediate humanitarian needs and provide safe shelter for displaced families amid harsh weather conditions.
In a press statement, the agency warned that the storm has destroyed fragile tents and partially collapsed damaged homes, putting residents at serious risk amid cold weather and persistent rainwater leaks.
