The first winter storm of the season began affecting Gaza this weekend, with heavy rain on Saturday flooding an estimated 70,000 tents within 12 hours. The flooding has prompted warnings of a worsening humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in temporary camps that lack adequate protection from rain and cold.
Storm Hits Gaza Camps
A low-pressure weather system brought heavy rain and strong winds to Gaza City, where displaced Palestinians struggled to cope. In western Gaza City, residents attempted to repair damaged tents and cover gaps with plastic sheeting. Families used basic tools and frayed ropes to fix worn shelters amid severe shortages of tarpaulins and insulation materials, raising concerns that the tents may collapse during upcoming storms.
Impact on Displaced Families
In Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Magdi Al-Omari, a 28-year-old Palestinian amputee, was seen walking through a rain-soaked tent camp. Children in Gaza City were pictured in makeshift tents, and a young girl was seen walking through Bureij refugee camp. In Khan Yunis, a man helped direct water away from tent homes, and a woman hung wet clothes to dry by her tent.
In Jabaliya camp, a woman stood by her home facing worsening living conditions and limited protection from the winter weather. A man fixed his temporary shelter, while another used a bucket to move water away from tent homes. Flooded tents were reported in Bureij refugee camp, where children tried to move flood waters away from tent homes and a displaced woman sat on rubble.
Widespread Destruction
Families sheltering in makeshift tents face worsening living conditions amid damaged infrastructure and widespread destruction caused by the war. Collapsed rubble lies beside a flooded field in Jabaliya, and a man looked out from the remains of a destroyed building at Jabaliya refugee camp. The flooding has exacerbated the challenges for displaced Palestinians as they endure the winter weather with limited resources.
