Gaza, MINA – Hundreds of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been flooded since Monday due to heavy rainfall, exacerbating the suffering of thousands living in precarious conditions amid destroyed infrastructure, according to Gaza Municipality officials, PIC reports.
Hosni Mhanna, spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that “new weather systems are once again exposing the fragility of infrastructure, particularly stormwater drainage and sewage systems.” He reported that flooding occurred during Monday evening’s storm and again during a new weather system on Thursday, as runoff carried debris and waste into camps and shelters.
The flooding has led to deteriorating health and environmental conditions, especially in densely populated areas. Mhanna explained that the tents offer little protection against harsh weather, with water seeping inside and damaging belongings while the ground turns to mud.
He warned that children and the elderly are increasingly vulnerable to cold-related illnesses and respiratory diseases, amid a lack of heating and severe strain on the healthcare system.
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According to Mhanna, more than 220,000 meters of sewage networks and approximately 15,000 meters of stormwater drainage systems have been destroyed during the war, reducing operational capacity by over 80 percent. The current conditions have prevented the system from absorbing recent rainfall, causing water to accumulate in streets and seep into tents and damaged homes.
Municipal crews, working alongside civil defense teams, are attempting to manage the situation but face a severe shortage of equipment and machinery needed for water removal and urgent repairs. Mhanna warned of growing risks of environmental contamination and disease outbreaks without immediate intervention.
Since December 2025, the Gaza Strip has been hit by several storms that flooded and destroyed tens of thousands of tents and caused already damaged buildings to collapse, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, some due to extreme cold.
Approximately 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, out of a population of 2.4 million, are living in harsh conditions in worn-out tents lacking basic necessities after their homes were destroyed during the war that began on October 8, 2023, and continued for two years.
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Despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025, living conditions in Gaza have seen little improvement, as Israel has not fully adhered to its commitments, including halting airstrikes and implementing humanitarian provisions, according to local officials.
Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal issued an urgent appeal urging residents to exercise caution, particularly as cold waves intensify. He called for close monitoring of children and vulnerable families, especially those living in tents, to ensure their safety and protect them from the dangers of extreme cold.
In a statement issued Thursday, Civil Defense warned that cold weather could lead to serious health complications and, in some cases, fatalities. Basal stressed that public safety is a shared responsibility and urged all possible preventive measures during this critical period.
With the onset of winter and successive storms affecting Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, the suffering of displaced people has worsened significantly, with tens of thousands of tents flooded, leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises that have claimed the lives of children, the elderly, and the sick due to severe cold.[]
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