Winter rains flood thousands of displaced families’ tents across Gaza, leaving people exposed to the cold

Storm overwhelms displacement camps

Heavy rain flooded tents across the Gaza Strip as the season’s first winter storm moved through the besieged territory. Displaced families were forced out into cold conditions, and footage showed people wading through ankle-deep water in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah.

Mattresses and blankets were soaked, while children stood barefoot in muddy pools mixed with sewage. Civil Defence reported receiving about 1,500 distress calls over 10 hours.

Shelter centres and buildings affected

Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said some shelter centres were completely flooded, leaving everyone inside without shelter. He told Al Jazeera, “What we feared has actually happened.” The storm also brought down buildings that had been damaged during Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October 2023.

Families face worsening exposure

Al Jazeera reporter Nour Khaled, speaking from a Gaza City camp, said more than 28,000 widows were facing winter alone with their children. She questioned how plastic sheeting could protect people when even houses were unable to withstand the rain. More than 125,000 families living along the coast were identified as especially vulnerable to having their tents swept away by the sea.