Heavy rains sweeping across parts of the Middle East have flooded tens of thousands of tents in Gaza’s displaced persons’ camps. Authorities in the enclave reported that at least 70,000 tents housing tens of thousands of people were flooded over the past day.
Displaced Residents Face Severe Weather
While no fatalities were reported following the storms, some individuals sustained injuries. The severe weather washed away several tents, leaving mattresses and blankets completely soaked with water.
More than 1.6 million residents out of Gaza’s 2.1 million population currently reside in tents or makeshift shelters as a result of the ongoing conflict involving Israel. United Nations data indicates that roughly 80% of the enclave’s structures have sustained damage during the war, with two-thirds entirely destroyed. This leaves residents—many displaced multiple times—with the choice of living in tents or risking their lives in buildings on the verge of collapse.
The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine issued an appeal for humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip. The committee stated that approximately 950,000 people reside in areas vulnerable to flooding, with over 400,000 living in zones facing high levels of risk.
The committee noted that the heavy rainfall worsens an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, leaving displaced families exposed to the elements without basic necessities.
Conflict Background and Death Toll
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas and its affiliates launched a terrorist attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251 hostages. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the UN, EU, US, and Israel.
Since the war started, around 74,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip. A UN commission of inquiry and multiple leading human rights organizations have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation that Israel denies, stating that its military acts in accordance with international law.
