Press Release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza Regarding the Tragic Accident in Jabalya

Nov 18, 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic fire that broke out in Jabalya on Thursday evening, November 17, 2022, and caused the death of 21 people.

This tragic accident is a new reminder that Gaza Strip is still under the unfair “Israeli” blockade and, consequently, suffers from the lack of equipment, tools, and procedures necessary to deal with such catastrophes.

Unfortunately, rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the scene and exerted much effort to deal with the accident, but were unable to operate efficiently due to the lack of proper equipment. The last time tools were provided to these teams was in 1999.

Although these tools have become worn out and obsolete, the rescue teams were not able to maintain or replace them ever since due to the restrictions imposed by the “Israeli” occupation and the reluctance of donors.

Sadly, this is not the first accident to uncover a serious shortage in rescue and firefighting tools in the Gaza Strip, which was apparent in the gas leak accident at Al-Nuseirat market in 2020, which caused the death of 23 people, and the “Israeli” aggression in May 2021. If proper equipment existed at the time, many lives would have been saved.

In light of these unfortunate facts, it is the duty of the international community, United Nations agencies, and international donors to work in order to avoid this tragic accident from happening again by providing rescue teams in Gaza with proper tools and equipment that include, to name a few, hydraulic ladders to reach high-rise buildings, materials to extinguish highly-flammable substance, and protective suits for firemen.

Local Authorities, municipalities, and the Ministry of Public Works are also in critical need of tools and equipment in order to operate in times of crisis, especially in the densely populated refugee camps, as many experts warn of harsh weather conditions during the upcoming winter.

It is, indeed, the collective responsibility of all parties to lift the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and provide it with every necessary precaution to prevent the reoccurrence of such a tragedy! On our side, we have prepared a complete list of proposals for necessary projects in critical sectors, and we are pleased to provide them to any interested country or organization willing to alleviate the suffering of our besieged people.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

                                                                 Gaza – Palestine