Heavy rains leave tens of thousands without shelter in Gaza

Gaza is grappling with a severe flooding crisis as heavy rains inundated tens of thousands of displaced people's tents, leaving them without shelter. The Hamas-run government media office reported that approximately 70,000 tents sheltering hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals were flooded on the first day of the rain. The collapse of cracked walls and roofs resulted in injuries, some critical, across various areas in the small territory.

Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal stated that his teams received over 1,500 calls during the night from residents seeking urgent assistance due to flooded tents. Gaza's displaced families are fleeing camps in Gaza City and other parts of the territory, fleeing the relentless rain. The coalition of Palestinian civil society organizations has warned of a catastrophe threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands, emphasizing the heightened risk of disease and epidemic spread.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority called for immediate international action, blaming Israel's ongoing war for exacerbating the dire living conditions in Gaza. Despite a fragile ceasefire, the Israeli army continues airstrikes and ground operations nearly daily. Gaza urgently requires 200,000 prefabricated homes, heavy machinery to clear rubble, and immediate provision of electricity and heating to address the devastating impact of the storm.