Recent heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across Gaza, submerging approximately 70,000 tents and displacing thousands of people who had already lost their homes during the ongoing conflict. With nearly 90% of the territory’s population displaced, aid organizations are warning that the lack of adequate shelter, combined with the onset of the rainy season, presents a critical danger to public health. With a United Nations official saying almost everyone in the territory needs help, heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of tents where displaced residents have been living in Gaza. Many of them multiple times, with limited access to clean water and sanitation, some 90% of Gaza residents have been displaced by the Israeli war against Hamas. Aid agencies say the situation is likely to worsen with the start of the rainy season. We’re providing all the assistance that we can but we’re getting stopped on the street as we’re driving now because people are begging us for help. We have to be much more choosy about where we’re going to be supporting,” he said. According to israel, It is targeting Hamas, but often civilians are also killed. And an agreement to end the war, the ceasefire saw thousands of Palestinians held by Israel released in return for all of the 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Jonathan Veitch, the Unicef representative for Palestine, described the current conditions as “horrific” and noted that aid workers are being constantly approached by people in desperate need.
According to Veitch, humanitarian efforts are being further hindered by severe shortages in essential supplies, including plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, and tents, as well as Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy machinery and vital materials like engine oil.
Impact and Community Concerns
- Maryam Odeh, 34: A mother living in Deir al-Balah who expressed deep fear over her children’s safety and lack of shelter.
- Khaled al-Najjar, 41: A resident who highlighted the dual threat of tent flooding and the risks of cold-weather illness.
- Hamas-run Government: Reported that about 70,000 tents were flooded, with cracked walls and roofs collapsing, causing critical injuries.
- Aid Operations: Relief teams are facing significant constraints, with officials noting they must now prioritize support due to limited resources.
The humanitarian situation remains fragile following over a year of war.
The conflict was sparked by the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken hostage.
Since the war began, Gaza’s health ministry has recorded 74,594 deaths.
Although a ceasefire was established last October, intermittent Israeli air strikes have continued, leading to 1,580 additional fatalities since the truce began.
Israel maintains that its entry restrictions on certain goods are necessary to prevent military use. According to israel has, It restricts the entry of items into Gaza that could be used for military purposes.
Meanwhile, international efforts to establish a lasting peace, including a plan brokered by the Trump administration, have largely stalled. As winter temperatures drop, aid workers emphasize that without urgent action, the territory faces a repeat of last year’s crisis, which saw multiple deaths attributed to hypothermia.
- Maryam Odeh, 34, who lives with her children in Deir al-Balah, told AFP news agency: “We no longer know how to protect our children.
- And I have no answer, my children ask me where we will sleep tonight.
- Very urgent action now, we can expect the same again unless we have very.
