A displaced grandmother and her grandson burn to death in Gaza tent fire

Humanitarian Conditions in Displacement Camps

A fire occurred in a displacement camp in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson. The incident was reported by the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza.

The deceased, Amal Abu al-Khair, was among the numerous displaced Palestinians facing harsh winter conditions in temporary shelters. The fire originated while her son, Muhammad, was preparing dinner. The flames were exacerbated by strong winds, rendering containment efforts ineffective.

The tent, which served dual purposes as a living and cooking area, was constructed with flammable materials. During meal preparation, hot cooking oil ignited, rapidly spreading the fire. Muhammad's impaired vision and the restricted space hindered his ability to control the blaze, and efforts to extinguish it were unsuccessful, leading to the consumption of the entire tent.

Muhammad sustained severe third-degree burns and remains in a critical state. A funeral was held for Amal Abu al-Khair and her grandson Saul at a hospital in Gaza City.

Recent weeks have seen severe winter storms impacting the region, leading to flooding and infrastructure damage in the tent cities of Gaza. According to the United Nations' children agency, adverse weather conditions and inadequate shelter have resulted in the deaths of at least six children in December.

Aid organizations have raised concerns about the insufficiency of shelter materials reaching Gaza during the ongoing truce. Reports indicate that the agreed-upon daily entry of 600 aid trucks has not been consistently met, despite official statements to the contrary.

Based on reporting by Africanews.