Gaza Winter Storm: 70,000 Tents Flooded, Thousands Left Exposed
A severe winter storm has flooded 70,000 tents in Gaza, leaving thousands of displaced Palestinians exposed to harsh weather and sewage.
The first winter storm of the season has brought devastation to the Gaza Strip, where Gaza rains flood tents and shelters on a massive scale. Within just 12 hours of the storm's arrival, approximately 70,000 tents housing displaced Palestinian families were inundated, leaving thousands of people vulnerable to rising water levels and freezing conditions.
Immediate Chaos and Massive Losses
The scale of the disaster became apparent early Saturday as Gaza's Government Media Office reported initial losses estimated at around USD 3 million. The storm did more than just soak tents; it caused dozens of walls to collapse and left several people injured. Many buildings, already weakened by the ongoing conflict that began in October 2023, are now at risk of total collapse, posing a lethal threat to those seeking refuge nearby.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted by the Gaza Civil Defence agency, which recorded roughly 1,500 distress calls in the first 10 hours of rainfall. In several displacement sites, water levels surged by 30 to 40 centimetres, turning camps into lakes of mud and sewage.
"Forced Out Into the Unknown"
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence, described a harrowing scene where entire shelter centres were completely submerged. He noted that residents were forced to abandon their only remaining possessions and move "into the unknown."
The risk is highest for the most vulnerable populations. Basal warned that premature babies, the elderly, and the chronically ill are facing an imminent threat of death or severe illness due to the harsh weather and lack of protection.
Structural Failures and Evacuations
The combination of strong winds and heavy rain has triggered structural failures across the enclave:
- Nuseirat: Rescue teams had to evacuate residents from a building in the central area after it partially collapsed.
- Northern Gaza: Two people were injured when the wall of a building gave way following the rainfall.
- Major Cities: Footage from Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah shows families wading through ankle-deep water, with children standing barefoot in contaminated pools.
A Crisis of Supplies
In the coastal area of al-Mawasi, where over 900,000 displaced people are sheltering, the rainfall began late Friday night, quickly turning the area into a disaster zone. Gaza's emergency committee has sounded the alarm, stating that more than one million displaced people are facing a brutal winter. The territory is estimated to urgently need 200,000 tents and essential heating supplies.
The tragedy is compounded by a total lack of resources. Raed al-Dahshan, director of Civil Defence in Gaza, admitted that his teams do not possess a single tarpaulin or tent to help the affected families. "We deal only with saving lives, and that is not enough," he stated.
Healthcare Under Pressure
The storm has also crippled the already fragile healthcare system. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, reported that the hospital's emergency department was flooded and remained non-functional for about four hours.
Beyond the immediate flooding, health officials are terrified of a secondary disaster. The mixing of rainwater with sewage inside displacement tents is expected to trigger a surge in skin infections, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal diseases, potentially leading to dozens of deaths.
The Government Media Office has held Israel "fully responsible" for the disaster, citing the continued closure of border crossings and strict restrictions on the entry of reconstruction and shelter materials.