Gaza officials have announced evacuation plans for residents of war-damaged buildings following the deadly collapse of the Al-Saada apartment block on September 16. This incident resulted in the deaths of 21 people and highlights serious dangers for residents of damaged buildings.
Current Situation of Gaza Residents
Nearly a year has passed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and tens of thousands of Gaza residents still live in damaged buildings. Local officials face serious challenges in evacuating these buildings despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collapse.
According to officials, over 2,000 buildings in Gaza have been identified as at-risk structures. The collapse of the Al-Saada building in the Al-Rimal area of Gaza was a serious warning for residents of other similar buildings. Gaza officials announced that they are implementing an emergency plan to evacuate and demolish 255 damaged buildings.
Challenges in the Evacuation Plan
Ismail Al-Thawabteh, head of the media office of the Hamas government in Gaza, announced that an Egyptian relief agency has offered to provide transportation for evacuated residents to designated shelters. However, he pointed out major challenges, including some families' unwillingness to evacuate unsafe buildings, lack of financial resources, and lack of access to heavy equipment for safe demolition.
Currently, extensive reconstruction efforts in Gaza have not yet begun, and U.S. mediation efforts for disarming Hamas and withdrawing Israeli forces have been suspended. The population of over 2 million in Gaza is living in extremely difficult conditions, with many residing in temporary tents or overcrowded rooms in damaged buildings.
According to Palestinian officials and United Nations representatives, Israeli restrictions on Gaza are a factor in the shortage of heavy machinery for debris clearance and equipment for rebuilding homes. In this context, Alessandro Marakik, head of the United Nations Development Program office in Gaza, pointed to the lack of equipment and stated that this situation forces people to sift through the debris with their hands.
Given the dire conditions, residents continue to live in damaged buildings and express concern about the serious dangers posed by the current situation. Mohammed Arafa, head of the Gaza Engineers Association, referred to assessments conducted on the Al-Saada building and stated that the collapse of this building was due to structural weaknesses caused by bombings.
Ultimately, the residents of Gaza hope that necessary measures for their safety will be swiftly taken given the current difficult conditions. Otherwise, the dangers of living in damaged buildings will continue.
Read more: Four Palestinians Killed in Gaza Following Israeli Airstrikes
