Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of tents sheltering displaced residents across Gaza, leaving nearly the entire population in urgent need of assistance. People used cooking pots and pans to scoop out water from their submerged temporary shelters, while others found themselves entirely without cover.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Jonathan Veitch, the Unicef representative for Palestine, described the conditions as horrific and noted that the situation was exacerbated by Israeli restrictions blocking the entry of heavy machinery and essential supplies such as engine oil. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced by the conflict, frequently multiple times, and faces severe shortages of sanitation and clean water. Aid organizations warned that conditions will deteriorate further with the ongoing rainy season.
Speaking to the BBC from Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, Veitch explained that aid workers are frequently stopped in the streets by residents pleading for assistance. He warned of potential fatalities from hypothermia similar to the previous winter unless urgent measures are implemented immediately. Additionally, Veitch stated that UN budget reductions have led to a shortage of tents, plastic sheeting, and tarpaulins in the territory.
According to the Hamas-run government in Gaza, approximately 70,000 tents were flooded by the downpour. A government spokesperson reported that the collapse of numerous cracked walls and roofs resulted in multiple injuries, including some critical cases.
Conflict Background and Casualties
An October ceasefire halted active combat temporarily and facilitated the release of thousands of Palestinian detainees in exchange for remaining hostages, alongside an agreement to conclude the war, but Israeli air strikes have persisted nearly every day since. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that 1,580 people have been killed since the ceasefire began, figures deemed reliable by the United Nations. A peace initiative mediated by the Trump administration has experienced a stall.
The ongoing war began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Total casualties in Gaza since the outbreak of the conflict have reached 74,594, according to figures from the local health ministry.
Aid agencies continue to evaluate the mounting humanitarian needs as displaced families struggle to cope with the severe weather conditions.
