Fears of ‘catastrophic consequences’ in Gaza as rain floods tents

A severe winter storm has brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to Gaza, flooding the makeshift tents of displaced Palestinians and raising fears of catastrophic consequences for nearly two million people without adequate shelter. Thousands of families in displacement camps awoke on Friday to find their tents submerged in water, according to local media reports. The Palestinian Civil Defence has issued urgent warnings for residents, particularly the displaced, to take precautions against potential destruction from the storm. The Palestinian Meteorological Department has also alerted the region to the risk of flash floods in low-lying areas and valleys across the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with strong winds and heavy rain expected in the coming days. Adnan Abu Hasna, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), emphasized that the storm could have devastating effects on the already vulnerable displaced population. In the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza alone, over 900,000 displaced individuals are living in tents, with their safety at risk due to the lack of flood-prevention barriers. Across the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands more are displaced, many living in cramped conditions with limited access to basic services. The situation is exacerbated by the extensive damage caused during the two-year conflict, with 83% of structures, including homes, schools, and hospitals, destroyed or damaged. The Global Shelter Cluster reports that more than 282,000 homes have been razed or rendered uninhabitable. Despite a ceasefire agreement last month, Israel has restricted the entry of essential shelter supplies and equipment, leaving at least 259,000 families without adequate protection this winter. While the agreement required Israel to allow the entry of tents and mobile shelters, heavy restrictions on relief materials have persisted, with only 150 aid trucks entering Gaza daily—far fewer than the 600 agreed upon. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as displaced Palestinians struggle to cope with the harsh winter conditions.