Heavy rains in Gaza threaten power supplies and healthcare facilities
Recent downpours have flooded shelters, damaged solar installations and raised concerns about electricity and medical equipment in the Gaza Strip.
Heavy rainfall in the Gaza Strip has flooded makeshift shelters and damaged solar power systems that many families rely on for lighting and phone charging. In the Bureij refugee camp, 65-year-old Abu Sajed described moving to chairs to avoid standing water and losing his blood-glucose monitor after it became soaked. His family’s solar inverter was also destroyed, leaving them without a reliable source of electricity.
In northern Gaza, Mohammed al-Hour, who operates a solar charging station, said that persistent clouds and rain limit his ability to provide power, as water seeps through cracked walls and ceilings. He noted that the bombardment has left most structures vulnerable to water intrusion.
The Abu Zayed Electricity Company, which prepares for winter outages, reported that water entered several facilities despite protective measures such as plastic sheeting and insulated wires. General manager Aya Shaheen said the company had to suspend service at affected branches because of the risk of short circuits, and that repairing equipment can take hours or days.
UNICEF estimates that more than 106,000 people have been affected by the recent rains, while a joint assessment by the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Union found that about 80 % of Gaza’s electricity generation and distribution assets were destroyed or inoperable during the conflict. Energy-system engineer Mohammed Abu Khaled warned that rainwater can damage inverters and batteries, increasing repair costs and reducing solar output by 60-80 % on cloudy days.
Khaled also highlighted the risk to medical facilities that operate from prefabricated structures, where water can reach operating-room equipment, portable oxygen generators and monitoring devices. Some hospitals have already reported damage to essential equipment, adding pressure to an already strained health sector.
As the winter season continues, residents face ongoing challenges in maintaining basic services amid limited infrastructure and resources.