Gaza Homes Flooded after Israel Unbolts Dam Gates

PALESTINE - ISRAEL, 23 Feb 2015

Falastin News Palestine – TRANSCEND Media Service

Scores of Palestinian family homes east of blockaded Gaza were flooding after the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) opened dam gates at dawn Sunday [22 Feb 2015].

The Palestinian Interior Ministry said in a statement the IOA opened a water dam east of Gaza Valley resulting in deluges of water. The floods have reached as far as the Meghraqa town, in central Gaza.

A state of emergency has been declared in Meghraqa town and the outskirts of Gaza Valley after dozens of civilian homes were submerged in the floodwater.

The civil defense crews and marine police forces rushed to the area to evacuate Gazans via small boats after gauge heights reached three meters and a half.

A couple of years ago, scores of Palestinian homes were inundated in the violent downpours of water after the IOA opened dam gates, leading to remarkable damage.

The suffering is compounded by the fact that Israel has maintained a complete siege over Gaza for the last eight years, severely limiting electricity and the availability of fuel for generators. It has also prevented the displaced from rebuilding their homes, as construction materials are largely banned from entering.

This is not the first time Israeli occupation authorities have opened the Gaza Valley dams.

In Dec. 2013, Israeli occupation authorities also opened the dams amid heavy flooding in the Gaza Strip. The resulting floods damaged dozens of homes and forces many families in the area from their homes.

In 2010, the dams were opened as well, forcing 100 families from their homes. At the time civil defense services said that they had managed to save seven people who had been at risk of drowning.

Go to Original – falastinews.com

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