Tens of thousands without shelter face lethal conditions in storm-hit Gaza as they wait for 150,000 tents

Storms leave families exposed

Weekend storms left many displaced Palestinians in waterlogged or damaged tents. Aid agencies say 150,000 new shelters are waiting outside Gaza for Israeli approval to enter. Raed Jamal, a displaced Palestinian, said his children were sick after their clothes became soaked. He described using pots to catch rainwater falling into the tent overnight.

Flooding and deadly incidents

The UN estimates that 940,000 people live in flood-prone areas of Gaza in makeshift tents without protection from heavy rain. The risk has increased because storm-water pumping facilities are not operating amid a lack of power.

The Palestinian health ministry said a child drowned in floodwater at the weekend. It also reported that at least three children and their mother died after a sand dune collapsed onto their tent. A Shelterbox spokesperson said the floods showed why more durable shelter improvements were needed before winter.

Supplies held up at crossings

Gisha, an Israeli organisation advocating freer movement of goods and people, said Israeli authorities had imposed tighter limits on goods entering Gaza than during previous ceasefires. It also accused them of failing to be transparent about what is permitted.

Israeli authorities say an average of 600 trucks enter Gaza each day. Gisha says the count treats 12 pallets as one truck, although a truck usually carries about 20 pallets, potentially reducing the amount transported by about 40%.

Calls for political action

Joseph Willits, Caabu’s head of parliamentary affairs, said winter rain and flooding had struck people already facing disease and malnutrition. He described the blocked supply of tents as a political scarcity. Batsh, who can see her former tent from her current shelter, said the cold was lethal and feared returning to the fragile tent as winter approached.