Over 1,500 Tents in Gaza Flooded, Unusable After Days of Rain: Civil Defence
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Over 1,500 tents sheltering displaced people in Gaza’s displacement camps and shelters were flooded due to heavy rainfall across the war-torn enclave in the past two days, Gaza’s Civil Defence said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the emergency service said rescue teams had found hundreds of tents flooded, with water levels exceeding 30 cm. Many displaced people were affected by the cold, experiencing shivering and damage to their belongings and mattresses.
In Gaza City, Civil Defence teams tracked 242 flooded tents in camps located on Yarmouk Stadium grounds and Gaza Municipality Park, 185 tents in the Saraya complex area, and 70 tents in the Shujaiya parking area.
In Rafah, 170 tents along the coastal road and around the “Fesh Fresh” rest area were flooded. In Khan Yunis, more than 665 tents in areas like Al-Aqsa University, around the Asda prison, and the Barakah neighborhood were also inundated.
The medical tents at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, were flooded due to heavy rainfall and the lack of necessary supplies, amid the destruction of infrastructure caused by relentless Israeli attacks during the ongoing genocide in the enclave. pic.twitter.com/0xlH3Z2hNd
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 31, 2024
In central Gaza, flooding affected around 210 tents in areas such as western Deir al-Balah, Al-Basa, and Wadi al-Salqa.
A severe winter storm battered the Gaza Strip, bringing heavy rain and freezing temperatures, further worsening the suffering of displaced Palestinian families across Gaza, who have been living in makeshift tents and enduring harsh conditions for the past 14 months due to the… pic.twitter.com/ByUp3UNPmX
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 31, 2024
Freezing Temperatures Claim Lives Amid Humanitarian Crisis
The bitter cold has already claimed seven lives, including six children, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. Officials fear the death toll will rise as displaced families struggle in rain-soaked tents, without adequate heating, clothing, or food supplies.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted the plight of Gaza’s children, with many falling ill due to the cold while wearing only summer clothing.
Displaced residents in the southern Gaza area of al-Mawasi reported nights of misery as relentless rain overwhelmed their shelters. Floodwaters rendered over 100,000 tents unusable while many tents were torn apart by strong winds, offering no protection against the freezing weather.
In central Gaza, conditions were equally grim. Over a million displaced individuals face severe food shortages as Israeli restrictions choke the entry of humanitarian aid. Many now rely on charity kitchens to survive.
