Heavy Rain Floods Thousands of Tents in War-Hit Gaza

Heavy rain on Saturday flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced people across war-devastated Gaza, leaving families without shelter. The Hamas-run government media office reported that about 70,000 tents were flooded on the first day of the downpour. The rains also caused cracked walls and roofs to collapse, leading to injuries in various parts of the territory. Families fled camps in Gaza City as well as central and northern areas of the Strip. Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal stated that his teams received more than 1,500 calls overnight from residents asking for urgent help. He added that the agency operates without equipment or capabilities and called on the international community and humanitarian groups to intervene. Residents shared details of their struggles. Forty-five-year-old Um Muhammad al-Hersh said her family could not save their mattresses and clothes. Maryam Odeh, 34, noted that her children ask where they will sleep with no answer. Khaled al-Najjar, 41, expressed fear of the cold and widespread diseases. A coalition of Palestinian civil society organisations warned of a catastrophe and urged pressure on Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid. Mustafa Qazzaat, a Gaza city council member and emergency committee official, said Israel has not allowed prefabricated homes since the truce and only permitted limited tents, adding that Gaza urgently needs 200,000 prefabricated homes and heavy machinery.

Context

The heavy flooding during winter months worsens the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where millions have been displaced by years of conflict and destruction of infrastructure. Access to adequate shelter, heating, and medical supplies remains severely restricted due to ongoing blockades and entry limitations on heavy machinery and building materials.