Tens of thousands of tents flooded after heavy rains in Gaza

Heavy rains turned temporary shelters into flooded living spaces across Gaza. About 70,000 tents were reportedly affected, according to the Hamas-run government in Gaza. The flooding matters because these tents are homes for people already displaced by the war. Many have been moved several times and have limited access to clean water and sanitation.

Residents tried to protect themselves using ordinary household items. They used pots and pans to clear water from their tents. Flooding also contributed to the collapse of cracked walls and roofs, causing injuries, some of them critical. Some families said they were left without shelter after the rain.

The danger is expected to grow as the rainy season continues. Aid workers say there are not enough tents, tarpaulins, or plastic sheets. Jonathan Veitch of Unicef warned that nearly everyone needed help after the flooding. Without urgent support, people face cold weather, disease, and possible deaths from hypothermia.

A displaced person is someone forced to leave their home because conflict or another danger makes staying impossible. Displacement does not necessarily mean people have reached another country. In Gaza, many displaced residents remain inside the territory, living wherever they can find temporary shelter.

The article says about 90% of Gaza’s residents have been displaced by Israel’s war against Hamas. Many have been displaced more than once. Homes and infrastructure have been damaged, while people have limited access to clean water and sanitation. Tents have therefore become shelters for families who cannot safely return home.

This makes heavy rain especially serious. A tent cannot replace a secure home, especially when supplies are scarce and aid deliveries face restrictions. Maryam Odeh said her children asked where they would sleep, but she had no answer. The large number of displaced people means even a single storm can affect tens of thousands of families.

The crisis is enormous. The Hamas-run government in Gaza said about 70,000 tents were flooded after heavy rains. These are not empty shelters. They house displaced residents who have already lost stable homes and often have few alternatives.

The wider need is also close to universal. Jonathan Veitch, the Unicef representative for Palestine, said nearly everyone in Gaza needed help after the flooding. The article also says about 90% of Gaza’s residents have been displaced by the Israeli war against Hamas. Many people have been displaced several times, increasing pressure on temporary shelters and aid services.

The figures show why local families and aid groups cannot manage the emergency alone. Supplies such as tents, plastic sheeting, and tarpaulins are limited. Heavy machinery and engine oil are also restricted from entering Gaza, according to Veitch. As the rainy season continues, more people may need shelter, warmth, sanitation, and emergency assistance.

When tents stay wet and people cannot find safe shelter, cold weather becomes dangerous. Flooding also worsens already limited access to clean water and sanitation. Families may lose bedding, clothing, food, and the small amount of protection their tents provide. The article links these conditions to fears of widespread disease and hypothermia.

Khaled al-Najjar said families feared not only flooded tents, but also the cold and widespread diseases. Jonathan Veitch said aid workers had seen deaths from hypothermia during the previous winter. The Hamas-run government also reported injuries after cracked walls and roofs collapsed, with some injuries described as critical.

The risks continue beyond the first storm. If people remain in damaged shelters, repeated rain can deepen the emergency. Veitch said the same deaths could happen again without very urgent action. More tents, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, fuel, clean water, and sanitation support are needed as the rainy season progresses.

Temporary shelters offer little protection from severe weather. Heavy rain can flood the ground and the inside of tents, leaving families wet and exposed. Rain also makes existing damage more dangerous. In Gaza, many displaced residents already have limited access to clean water and sanitation, so flooding adds another layer of risk.

The article describes families using pots and pans to remove water. It also reports the collapse of cracked walls and roofs, causing injuries, some critical. Khaled al-Najjar said people feared the cold and widespread diseases. Veitch said deaths from hypothermia occurred during the previous winter, showing how dangerous cold conditions can become for people without secure shelter.

The rainy season threatens to repeat and expand these problems. Aid agencies have fewer tents, tarpaulins, and plastic sheets available because of UN budget cuts. Restrictions on machinery and supplies further slow repairs and relief. Without urgent action, more families may remain exposed to flooding, cold, illness, and unsafe buildings.

Aid agencies need shelters, plastic sheeting, fuel, and heavy machinery to protect displaced families and respond to flooding. The article says Israeli restrictions have made it harder to bring heavy machinery and supplies such as engine oil into Gaza. Israel says it restricts items that could be used for military purposes.

These restrictions affect practical relief work. Heavy machinery is needed for difficult cleanup or repair tasks, while engine oil helps equipment operate. At the same time, the supply of tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and tents has fallen because of UN budget cuts. Jonathan Veitch said aid workers must be more selective about where they provide support.

The result is a widening gap between needs and available assistance. Flooding means nearly everyone needs help, while aid workers cannot reach or support every family. If restrictions and shortages continue during the rainy season, displaced residents may remain exposed to water, cold, disease, and damaged shelters.

War creates the emergency by destroying homes, disrupting services, and forcing people to leave. The article says about 90% of Gaza’s residents have been displaced, many several times. People now depend on tents while having limited access to clean water and sanitation. Damaged walls and roofs make some remaining structures unsafe.

Heavy rain reveals how these problems connect. About 70,000 tents were reportedly flooded, and cracked walls and roofs collapsed, causing injuries. Families used pots and pans to remove water. Aid workers also fear cold and disease. Last winter, Veitch said, people died from hypothermia. These conditions show that displacement, damaged infrastructure, and weather can magnify one another.

Relief is further constrained by restrictions on heavy machinery and supplies such as engine oil. Israel says some restricted items could have military uses. UN budget cuts have also reduced tents, tarpaulins, and plastic sheeting. Unless urgent action provides shelter and supplies, the rainy season may worsen the emergency.