Gaza authorities warn of looming crisis as rainwater, sewage floods out displaced civilians from tents
Nearly 88% of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed by Israeli onslaught, according to local authorities
Palestinians are trying to survive in makeshift tents among ruins following ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, struggling with bad weather conditions during winter season in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on February 06, 2025.
GAZA CITY, Palestine
Local authorities warned Thursday of a looming humanitarian disaster in Gaza City after tents of displaced civilians were flooded by rainwater and sewage amid massive destruction following Israel’s genocidal war.
"The city is facing a stifling humanitarian disaster due to severe damage to infrastructure and severe shortage of resources and equipment needed to provide basic services,” Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna told Anadolu.Amid harsh storms and freezing cold, Palestinians in Khan Younis struggle to keep their makeshift tents standing among the ruins
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 6, 2025
A man cries out in despair, while others fight against the wind to hold onto what little shelter they have pic.twitter.com/MsYqbjLgeN
He said stormy winds that ravaged Gaza in recent days “have worsened the suffering of the displaced in the camps and shelters, as rainwater and sewage swept through hundreds of tents, causing dozens of them to fly away.”
Muhanna said eight sewage pumping stations, three rainwater collection basins and over 175,000 linear meters of sewage networks have been destroyed by the Israeli war on Gaza.
"This has resulted in sewage overflow in several areas that flooded streets and mixed with rainwater in collection basins," he added.
The spokesman said that the current electricity and fuel crises are further complicating the situation in Gaza, leaving municipal authorities unable to address the flooding problems.
According to figures released by Gaza’s government media office, the Israeli onslaught has destroyed nearly 88% of the enclave’s infrastructure, including homes, vital facilities, and public services.
On Jan. 19, a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, halting Israel’s genocidal war that killed more than 47,500 people and left the enclave in ruins.
