Thousands of Gaza families struggle as heavy rains hit

Heavy rainfall has flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities. The Gaza government media office reported that at least 70,000 tents flooded within a 12-hour period. The storms have soaked bedding, damaged temporary shelters, and washed away structures, forcing families to seek protection elsewhere. While injuries have been reported, no fatalities have been documented, according to the Business Recorder.

The territory's civil defence service received 1,500 distress calls, with Haaretz reporting that rescuers sought to free an individual trapped under a collapsed roof in Gaza City. Additionally, the Palestinian Civil Defense reported that three abandoned houses collapsed without causing injuries. At a camp in Gaza City, residents attempted to repair tents or use sand to reinforce them against water.

Middle East Eye reports that scarce aid and Israeli restrictions on shelter materials, such as tent poles and construction supplies, have left tens of thousands exposed to the elements for a fourth consecutive winter. A Red Cross spokesperson noted footage of entire families and camps inundated with water. The International Organization for Migration previously warned that the supply pipeline for humanitarian partners covers only about 17 per cent of identified winter needs.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Business Recorder, Middle East Eye, Haaretz — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.