Gaza’s battle for survival in the midst of ongoing adversity

Gaza (Quds News Network) – In the heart of an unyielding Israeli assault that has been raging since October 2023, the tale unfolds of two young heroes within the besieged city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Their commitment shines through as they aid an elderly soul in navigating a vast water pool, a consequence of relentless rains in a displacement camp.
These torrential downpours intensify the plight of those displaced, residing in camps and shelters across northern and southern Gaza. The rains become an uninvited guest, infiltrating their tents and causing irreparable harm to meager belongings, mainly comprising clothing and blankets.
Forced to abandon their homes across the Gaza Strip’s diverse regions, the displaced seek sanctuary from the unrelenting airstrikes and artillery barrages unleashed by the Israeli forces. Carrying only the essentials, they find themselves exposed to the harsh realities of biting cold, hunger, and thirst.

Approximations suggest a staggering 85% of Gaza’s population—approximately 1.93 million civilians—are forcibly displaced. Among them are families, forced to relocate multiple times in their quest for safety. Nearly 1.4 million internally displaced individuals are now registered in 155 UNRWA facilities across Gaza, with about a million finding refuge in 94 UNRWA shelters in the south.
In the sanctuary of a tent, a gathering ensues—men, women, and children huddled around a makeshift fire. A metal sheet fueled by plastic materials provides the only warmth they can muster. These makeshift havens, ill-equipped and unprotected from the unforgiving elements, become a symbol of resilience against fierce winds and freezing temperatures.
“We drowned during the night from rainwater that entered our tents in the area. The tents provide no protection from the rain, and they are ill-equipped to resist the biting winds and freezing cold,” laments one displaced individual.
“We only want to return to our homes,” he adds, echoing the universal sentiment of yearning for the familiarity of one’s abode.
Gaza bears the scars of destruction, with approximately 65,000 housing units rendered uninhabitable and over 290,000 residential units suffering varying degrees of damage since the onslaught began.
In another tent, a lone figure battles to salvage bedding and blankets from the relentless rainwater. His futile attempts mirror the struggle of many in this displaced community.
“The tent offers no protection from the rain. All the mattresses and blankets are soaked and no longer usable, and it’s impossible to dry them in these prevailing weather conditions,” shares one displaced woman.
In the same camp, a young man labors tirelessly to remove rainwater that has infiltrated his tent. A plastic container becomes a vessel to carry the unwanted intruder outside. Nearby, a woman takes on the task of drying her children’s clothes and blankets with her own hands.
Rafah, once a city, now stands as the primary refuge for the displaced—hosting over a million souls in densely populated spaces. This influx is a direct consequence of heightened Israeli aggression in Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah, and other parts of the enclave.
The scarcity of heating facilities due to fuel shortages and persistent power outages since the onset of the onslaught forces residents to kindle fires with whatever wooden and plastic materials they can find. However, this survival tactic introduces additional challenges, as the smoke and noxious odors emanating from burning materials pose health risks, especially in tents housing the sick and infants.
These displacement camps, predominantly situated in the southern regions of Gaza, arise in open areas where strong winds and frigid temperatures reign. The majority of these tents, fashioned from fabrics and plastic, lack the resilience needed to withstand rain and winds.
Navigating through these camps becomes nearly impossible as rainwater inundates every space. Mud pits along pathways, buoyant on the water’s surface, serve as obstacles in a landscape already marred by hardship.
The plight of the displaced extends beyond flooded tents, scarce clothing, and blankets, and the absence of heating means. The looming catastrophe of famine and the spread of diseases and epidemics becomes more apparent due to the scarcity of food and medicine—especially critical given the warnings about the contamination of sewage water with rainwater.
Moreover, the displaced face the dual challenges of displacement and harsh winter conditions, exposing them to respiratory illnesses and colds, particularly the vulnerable children among them.
Gaza teeters on the precipice of an imminent risk of infectious disease outbreaks, grappling with unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and a healthcare system burdened beyond its capacity, rendering it ineffective. The storm may rage on, but the resilience of the Gazan spirit persists amidst the tempest of adversity.