Heavy rains and a storm have flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including in Gaza City and central and northern areas such as Deir al-Balah. Local authorities report that the flooding has washed away shelters and soaked essential items, including blankets and mattresses, leaving many families with unusable belongings.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that most homes were already damaged or destroyed by war, leaving displaced people in precarious encampments. In many areas, overflowing sewage has mixed with the floodwater, further worsening dire living conditions. Hundreds of families have been seen fleeing their camps, while others attempt to salvage what remains by building makeshift earthen barriers and draining water by hand.
Civil Defence reported receiving over 1,500 emergency distress calls within a 10-hour period as the storm swept through the displacement camps. These floods have endangered families and put already war-damaged buildings at further risk. Meanwhile, Israeli restrictions on aid are hampering response efforts to assist those affected.