Floodwaters have inundated tents sheltering displaced Palestinian families in Gaza, according to reports, leaving residents exposed to rain and cold. The flooding adds to a shelter crisis faced by families whose homes were destroyed during the Israeli occupation’s genocide in Gaza.
Across the besieged territory, many displaced Palestinians have spent years living in tents and makeshift shelters. In September, the UN reported that 65 percent of households were living in such conditions, with shelters offering almost no protection from the weather.
The UN has warned that worn tents, inadequate drainage and shortages of bedding and warm clothing make the rainy season especially dangerous. Children are among those most vulnerable as families struggle to keep their shelters dry and withstand worsening weather.
Restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation on shelter materials, tools and equipment have limited humanitarian agencies’ ability to prepare for winter. The UN has also identified funding shortages as a major obstacle to delivering the assistance families need.
The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure has added to the danger. The UN warned that shortages of equipment and fuel needed to maintain drainage systems could increase flooding and public health risks for displaced communities.
For families already displaced by the Israeli occupation’s bombardment, adequate shelter remains essential. Humanitarian agencies continue to call for the entry of supplies needed to reinforce tents, protect children from the cold and help Palestinians endure another rainy season.
