Heavy seasonal winter storms flooded approximately 70,000 tents housing displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip between November 6 and November 7, dramatically compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis, RaiNews reported.
The downpours transformed sprawling encampments into thick swamps of mud and sewage. The Gaza government press office estimated total damages from the severe weather at around 3 million dollars.
Local civil defense teams logged roughly 1,500 emergency distress calls as floodwaters surged 30 to 40 centimeters high in several camps. Collapsing retaining walls and structurally compromised abandoned buildings injured multiple residents, though authorities confirmed no fatalities directly resulted from the storm itself.
Displaced families spent the hours desperately bailing water from their canvas shelters using handheld buckets. Soggy mattresses and blankets littered muddy ground where barefoot children huddled.
The severe weather heavily battered densely populated displacement hubs including Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and the coastal strip of al-Mawasi. Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians reside in these areas.
Heavy rain has flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians across Gaza. It was a sleepless night for many, as the rain washed away makeshift shelters and soaked blankets and mattresses. More than a year after the ceasefire began in Gaza, little has changed… pic.twitter.com/ln958ITRGm
Gaza authorities accused Israel of blocking the entry of shelter repair materials and heavy maintenance equipment. Conversely, Israel cited the risk of “dual-use” applications for items that could potentially be converted to military ends, while also alleging that Hamas routinely diverts incoming humanitarian cargo.
COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for coordinating civil administration and aid, stated it intensified operational efforts to upgrade basic sanitation and drainage conditions ahead of the predicted rainfall.
| Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Flooded Tents | ~70,000 |
| Estimated Damage | $3 million |
| Emergency Calls | ~1,500 |
| Water Level Rise | 30-40 cm |
| Required Tents | ~200,000 |
With winter arriving in full force, existing regional stockpiles of emergency shelters cover only a tiny fraction of the total humanitarian need. Local municipal authorities urgently requested approximately 200,000 fresh tents alongside adequate heating supplies.
The unexpected deluge hit a regional population already exhausted by prolonged conflict, widespread infrastructure destruction, and severe supply restrictions.
Earlier coverage: Heavy Rain Floods Gaza Displacement Camps Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
