Heavy rains flood Gaza camps, threaten war-damaged structures
Heavy rain has flooded tents and damaged buildings across Gaza, leaving thousands of displaced families exposed to cold, water and the risk of collapse.
Heavy rain and strong winds swept through Gaza on Saturday, flooding tents in al-Mina camp and threatening structures already weakened by previous Israeli bombardments. Residents reported water levels rising 30 to 40 cm in several camps, turning the ground into pools of muddy water.
Rana Adnan Hmeida, 29, said her family’s tent was inundated overnight, leaving her two-month-old daughter and other children shivering. She explained that the tent, located near the sea, had no tarpaulins or insulating material to protect against the storm.
In al-Mina camp, about 1,700 families live in tents that are now soaked. Raed Abu Amsha, 40, said his tent collapsed during the storm, soaking the belongings of nine children under his care.
In Nuseirat camp, residents of a tower block damaged by an Israeli strike in September 2025 face additional hazards. Nasser al-Hajj, 54, described a large hole in his ceiling that allows rainwater to enter, and an engineer warned that the building could suffer further collapse if more severe weather occurs.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that roughly 950,000 displaced people in Gaza are in areas vulnerable to flooding, including more than 400,000 in high-risk zones near the coast. About 44,000 Palestinians are living in structurally unsafe buildings, and over 4,000 structures may require demolition due to damage from air strikes.
Gaza’s municipal authorities report that rainwater drainage lines and sewage networks have been damaged, reducing the system’s capacity to handle rainwater to about 20 percent of demand. Municipality spokesperson Hosni Muhanna said workers are cleaning drains, removing debris and operating pumps, but shortages of fuel, equipment and spare parts limit their effectiveness.
Emergency committees in displacement camps are distributing tents and tarpaulins, though supplies fall far short of the need. Adli Awad, an official with the Nuseirat emergency committee, said his team is also helping families dig channels to divert water away from shelters.