The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has declared a state of emergency in Gaza on Thursday due to extreme weather over the past two days as some areas in the Strip were flooded by the heavy rains.
"One UNRWA school and an UNRWA collective center in Gaza City have been affected by the rising waters," the humanitarian agency said in a statement, adding that an emergency operations room was established in the City after an emergency planning was initiated last week.
"UNRWA provided 60,000 liters emergency fuel supplies to run back-up generators of pumping stations and portable pumps. UNRWA is also prepared to provide adequate shelter to internally displaced refugees and non-refugees should there be a need," said the statement.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the Strip's municipalities and civil defense had urged householders in the Sheikh Radwan tunnel area, eastern Gaza City, to leave their homes in order to avoid risking their lives.