Storm brings flooding risks to Gaza, threatening fragile tents sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians

GAZA CITY, Palestine/ISTANBUL

The suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is worsening as a weather depression accompanied by rain and a cold air mass reached the enclave area at dawn on Friday, amid warnings of the risk of flooding and the collapse of worn-out tents and shelter centers.

The Palestinian Meteorological Department said Palestine is being affected by a low-pressure system accompanied by a relatively cold to cold air mass and heavy rainfall, sometimes with thunderstorms.

The Gaza Civil Defense issued a series of urgent guidelines and warnings to residents—especially those displaced in tents—calling on them to take necessary precautions to avoid the dangers of flooding and collapses.

In a statement, the Civil Defense urged Palestinians to ensure that their tents are firmly secured, especially in areas near the coast that are exposed to strong winds, and to build sand barriers to prevent seawater from flowing into the tents.

It also stressed the importance of staying away from buildings that were heavily bombed and are no longer fit for habitation, “out of fear they may be severely affected by the rainwater and collapse onto residents.”

The Civil Defense also warned against lighting fires inside tents or near plastic materials and fabrics to avoid the risk of fires.

It called for opening “earthen channels and drains between the tents of the displaced to avoid the risk of flooding from rainwater.”

In a separate recorded statement, Mahmod Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, said: “With the first rainfall in Gaza at dawn on Friday, hundreds of tents were flooded, especially in Gaza City,” describing the situation as “catastrophic.”

Tragic reality

Amid this tragic reality, Basal said displaced families do not know where to go due to the lack of shelter centers and the massive destruction caused by Israel over two years of genocide.

According to the latest data from the Gaza Media Office, the Israeli genocidal attacks have destroyed 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, with initial losses estimated at around $70 billion.

The data shows that Israel has destroyed 268,000 housing units completely, 148,000 severely, making them uninhabitable, and 153,000 partially.

Basal warned of the danger of staying in unstable homes during rainfall, fearing they may flood or collapse.

Shelter centers flooded

Earlier on Friday, Basal said in a press statement that Palestinians awoke at night to find their tents and shelter centers flooded, describing the scene as "deeply heartbreaking."

He said water levels in some shelter center courtyards rose to more than 10 centimeters, causing the tents set up there to flood, soaking blankets, mattresses, and clothing.

He said the strip is now witnessing internal displacement, as Palestinians search for any safe place that can protect them from the cold and rain.

He called on the world to shoulder its responsibilities in the face of what he described as a “heinous crime,” represented in “leaving Palestinians with no safe place or shelter center to turn to.”

Displaced families fear the impact of the storm and the possibility of their tents and scarce essential belongings being flooded, repeating what happened during the past two rainy seasons, both of which occurred during the Israeli genocide.

Over the past two years, their tents have also been blown away or torn apart due to strong winds, further worsening their situation in the absence of alternatives or protective measures.

Because of weather factors and damage from Israeli bombardment, the Gaza media office estimates that 93% of all displacement tents are no longer suitable for shelter –⁠ 125,000 out of a total of 135,000.

Alternatives remain unavailable in the enclave due to Israeli restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid.

Authorities say Israel is violating the humanitarian protocol of the ceasefire agreement reached last month, including by blocking the entry of shelter materials such as tents and mobile homes.

Phase one of the ceasefire deal, based on US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Israel has killed more than 69,000 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023 and reduced it to rubble.