Heavy winter storms have created a new humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where flooding has destroyed approximately 22,000 tents and left hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians exposed to harsh weather conditions. According to the Palestinian Government Media Office, recent torrential rains have submerged large areas of displacement camps, causing an estimated $3.5 million in damage and affecting roughly 288,000 families already displaced by the conflict. The situation highlights the severe challenges facing civilians in conflict zones, drawing concern from humanitarian organizations worldwide, including those in Türkiye that have consistently provided aid to Gaza.
Infrastructure Collapse Amid Winter Conditions
The flooding has overwhelmed Gaza’s already damaged infrastructure, with makeshift sewage systems failing and temporary water networks becoming inoperative. Ismail al-Thawabteh, Director of the Government Media Office, reported that corridors in schools being used as shelters have been submerged, further reducing viable living spaces for displaced families. “Since Tuesday, intensive rainfall has flooded extensive areas in camps housing Palestinians previously forcibly displaced by Israel,” al-Thawabteh stated, describing how the storms have compounded an already dire humanitarian situation created by months of conflict.
Blockade on Proper Shelter Materials
Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, Israel continues to prevent container homes and adequate shelter materials from entering Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. Al-Thawabteh noted that Israel is blocking not only tents but also insulation, heating equipment, energy supplies, and sewage materials desperately needed to protect civilians from winter conditions. “As a government, we have repeatedly requested 300,000 tents and mobile homes, but international support has remained very limited; the responses received are not proportional to the dimensions of the catastrophe,” he explained.
International Response and Ongoing Challenges
The limited international response to the shelter crisis has left aid organizations struggling to address the massive needs of Gaza’s displaced population. With proper housing materials blocked from entry and temporary shelters destroyed by flooding, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate despite the nominal ceasefire. The situation represents a critical test for international aid systems and ceasefire implementations in conflict zones, raising questions about the effectiveness of humanitarian protections for civilians caught between conflict and natural disasters in besieged territories.