Lifeguards in Gaza face equipment shortages

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

Gaza’s marine rescue department, led by Ibrahim Shamlakh, operated with approximately 120 lifeguards this season as they worked to monitor crowded beaches without the aid of destroyed watchtowers, boats, or rescue equipment. Lifeguards like Ahmed Abu Haseira and Bilal Bakar relied on whistles, hand signals, and direct visual observation from ground-level tents to manage thousands of swimmers daily. The depletion of infrastructure occurred as a result of the ongoing war, which destroyed communication tools, elevated towers, and rescue gear previously used by the department.

Consequences

With the loss of elevated sightlines and rescue vessels, lifeguards face significantly reduced visibility and a decreased ability to reach swimmers in distress. The inability to adequately monitor the coastline has already contributed to drownings, including that of a young child, and creates a high-risk environment as the department manages between 20 and 165 rescue incidents on any given day.

Sources

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