The Israel-Gaza fighting has been raging on since October 7 as Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, killing some 1,200 people and taking several others hostages. Israel’s retaliatory strikes, on the other hand, have already claimed nearly 40,000 lives.
In Gaza, the sky is a critical source of problems. Besides the missiles that hit schools and shelters frequently, the brutal rays of the sun have made the summer unbearable for those struggling to survive in a ravaged landscape of ruins and debris.
Scorching heat could exacerbate health problems in Gaza
Close to all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are displaced after 10 months of gruesome violence. They are hungry, scores of them are starving. They sleep in their boiling shelters. In the heat, food is quickly rotting, attracting insects and flies to the camps.
Temperatures in the enclave this month reached an average high of 34 degrees Celsius. Since early 2024, Gaza has experienced several periods of extreme heat. In a certain period, temperatures even climbed to around 40 degrees.
Experts are concerned that scorching heat could exacerbate health problems for the millions of displaced Gazans, raising alarm over a looming public health crisis due to severe shortages of basic supplies such as food, medicines and electricity.
Extreme heat making things more difficult for aid agencies
The brutal heat is making things more difficult for aid agencies, already struggling to operate amidst the airstrikes, fighting and ravaged infrastructure. Recent years have seen higher temperatures hit the Mediterranean region and scientists have blamed climate change for it.
The transport of medicines that need to be kept cool is proving particularly challenging. Because of strict Israeli restrictions, trucks carrying tonnes of medical supplies often spend hours under the sun In the heat. The need for a ceasefire has never been more urgent.
