NEW YORK, December 11, 2025 (WAFA) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), warned today that the ongoing Storm Byron is sharply aggravating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In a post on X, Lazzarini said the storm “has Gaza in its grip,” stressing that Palestinians who have lost everything due to months of war are now facing a new wave of suffering.
He noted that the heavy rains and strong winds brought by the storm have added severe challenges for hundreds of thousands of displaced families living in makeshift shelters made of plastic sheets and fragile materials.
He emphasized that UNRWA staff—many of whom are themselves displaced—continue to work under extremely difficult conditions to assist affected families. Their efforts include draining sewage and floodwaters, removing accumulated garbage, distributing tarpaulin covers, winter clothing, and blankets, and providing emergency medical care.
Since early Wednesday, Gaza has experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds, overwhelming fragile shelters and flooding thousands of tents across the Strip. Meteorological forecasts indicate that the stormy conditions are expected to continue until Friday evening, raising fears of further humanitarian deterioration.
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