National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and destruction of property caused by torrential rains in Gaza, saying that the hardships faced by displaced and homeless Palestinians have reached an alarming level.
According to a statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat on Saturday, the speaker conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the severe weather and reiterated that Pakistan’s parliament and its people stand in full solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“Innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering under the combined weight of extreme weather conditions and a deepening humanitarian crisis,” Sadiq said, adding that restrictions and obstructions to humanitarian assistance by Israeli forces have further intensified the suffering of the affected population.
He noted that weak shelters and tents have become increasingly unsafe after heavy rains, while shortages of food, clean water and basic facilities have subjected Palestinians to severe hardship. “The entire Pakistani nation is grieved over the loss of lives in Gaza,” he stated.
Calling the ongoing humanitarian tragedy “a severe test for the global conscience,” Sadiq urged international organisations to immediately open humanitarian corridors for Gaza in view of the winter season. He emphasised that the blockade and violations of international laws have paralysed all basic services in the enclave.
The NA speaker strongly condemned the suspension of aid during the weather crisis, terming it an inhumane act. “Restrictions imposed by the occupying forces are continuously increasing the suffering of the people of Gaza,” he said.
Sadiq appealed to the Muslim community to assist the people of Gaza and called on the international community to take practical steps for the immediate relief of oppressed and homeless families.
Torrential rains due to Storm Byron have flooded tents and temporary shelters across the Gaza since late Wednesday, compounding the suffering of the territory’s residents, nearly all of whom were displaced during more than two years of war.
On Friday, Gaza’s Civil Defence Agency said that at least 13 people had died over the last 24 hours, including three children who died from exposure to the cold.
Source: Express Tribune
