70,000 tents flooded in 12 hours as heavy rain batters displaced Palestinians in Gaza

The recent heavy rains have led to catastrophic flooding in temporary shelters for displaced Palestinians across Gaza, impacting countless families. (Pic Credit: Reuters)

Heavy rainfall has inundated tens of thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, destroying temporary shelters and soaking mattresses, blankets and other belongings, local authorities said on Saturday.According to news agency Reuters, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported that at least 70,000 tents were flooded within a 12-hour period, affecting tens of thousands of displaced residents. Several people were injured, although no deaths had been reported.Gaza’s civil defence service said it had received around 1,500 emergency calls from displaced people seeking assistance. Three abandoned buildings also collapsed due to the rainfall, but no injuries were reported in those incidents.At a makeshift camp in Gaza City, displaced families struggled to protect their belongings and prevent further damage. Some residents attempted to repair damaged tents, while others piled sand around their shelters to stop rainwater from entering. Several families were also seen carrying children out of flooded tents.Olfat Magdoub, a displaced Gaza resident, tried unsuccessfully to sweep water away from her tent as the rain continued.“This is the first day of rain, and of course we are already flooded. What will happen if it rains again the next day? This is only the first day and we’re already overwhelmed,” she said.Recalling an earlier spell of rainfall, Magdoub said she had spent four nights sleeping on blankets laid directly on the floor after water soaked her bedding. She added that her mattresses were wet again, forcing her family to sleep on the ground.

Fuel shortages hamper emergency response

Municipal authorities and civil defence officials said they were struggling to respond to the flooding because of fuel shortages and damaged equipment.They said Israeli military operations during the war against Hamas had destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and water-pumping equipment, severely affecting their ability to deal with emergencies.The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population of more than two million and left large parts of the territory in ruins. With limited housing available, most residents are now living in makeshift tent settlements.Hamas accused Israel of restricting the entry of temporary shelters and construction materials needed to improve living conditions.COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating humanitarian assistance to Gaza, did not immediately respond to the allegations. However, it said on Friday that it had intensified efforts to improve sanitation conditions across the territory ahead of the expected rainfall, working alongside international organisations.

Limited progress on Gaza reconstruction

COGAT said four additional vacuum trucks had entered Gaza this week through the International Committee of the red cross (ICRC). They joined eight other vehicles delivered over the previous month to support sewage pumping, regular waste collection and repairs to water and sewage infrastructure.A ceasefire brokered by the United States last year envisaged the eventual reconstruction of Gaza. However, progress has remained limited as negotiations over Hamas’s disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal from the territory have stalled.Israeli forces continue to control around two-thirds of Gaza, from which residents have been ordered to leave.Meanwhile, displaced resident Rafiq Ghattas described the desperate conditions in the camps, saying there was little assistance available to families struggling with the flooding.“We have no resources, no tarpaulins, no tents and no one is checking on us,” he said, standing barefoot in a large pool of rainwater.According to Palestinian authorities, more than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas-led fighters in southern Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed.