Sand embankment collapse kills four in central Gaza camp after heavy rain

What Happened

A woman and three children died in central Gaza when a sand embankment collapsed onto tents following heavy rain. Medics said the rocky sand bank abutting a camp for displaced families south of Deir al-Balah washed away late on Sunday, November 8, completely covering three tents. The victims included a woman named Tahrir Nabhan, two of her children aged 8 and 6 named Mariam and Salah, and a 4-year-old child named Habiba al-Zein. Six others were injured in the incident.

Rescue Efforts And Impact

Witnesses and rescuers used shovels, hammers, and bare hands to break sandy rocks and dig victims out from beneath the rubble. Local authorities reported that at least 70,000 tents had already been flooded in the first hours after heavy rain began on Saturday, with water levels reaching up to 1.5 metres in some places. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that humanitarian partners received appeals from more than 26,000 households reporting shelter or property damage. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza's civil defence service, noted that families had set up tents near sand banks hoping for protection, but urged that reconstruction remains the only solution.

Context

Most of Gaza's population lives in temporary tent encampments or ruined buildings as reconstruction has not begun following years of military conflict. Displaced families face severe seasonal risks each winter as flood waters overwhelm makeshift shelters and severe weather triggers dangerous structural collapses.