Fri Dec 19 14:51:50 UTC 2025: Gaza Family Left Homeless After Roof Collapse Kills One, Injures Six
Gaza City – A roof collapse in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City has left one dead, six injured, and a family of 25 struggling for survival amidst harsh winter conditions. The incident occurred at the home of Osama al-Hussari, 57, whose damaged house, already weakened by previous Israeli bombing, succumbed to the heavy rains that have been battering the region.
The collapse happened while al-Hussari and his neighbor, Mohammed al-Helou, 57, were attempting to repair the leaking roof. Al-Helou was killed when the roof gave way, trapping him under rubble for two hours before rescue teams could recover his body. Six others, including two children, sustained injuries.
Al-Hussari’s home, though damaged, had been a refuge for his extended family after they were displaced during the recent conflict. Like many in Gaza, they preferred the damaged structure to living in a tent. “We used to say a concrete roof is better than a tent,” said al-Hussari, highlighting the desperate circumstances faced by many Gazans.
The incident has left the al-Hussari family homeless, forced to sleep in the street with no shelter. “We slept here in the street last night, 12 children and women,” al-Hussari lamented.
Emergency teams in Gaza have activated a committee to inspect buildings at risk of collapse, but for the al-Hussari family, the immediate future remains bleak. The collapse brings the total number of homes collapsing in Gaza since winter began to 17, with fears the number will rise. The incident highlights the dire conditions faced by many Gazan families, struggling to survive in the aftermath of conflict and a lack of adequate housing.
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