Floods swamp 70,000 tents in Gaza as winter blockade cuts shelter supplies

Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of tents across Gaza, washing away shelters and belongings and putting children at risk of illness and hypothermia, Islamic Relief reported.

In the first day of the latest storm alone, local emergency reports confirmed that around 70,000 worn-out tents sheltering tens of thousands of displaced families were flooded, while dozens of cracked walls and roofs collapsed on people seeking cover. Islamic Relief aid worker Layla described scenes of panic: "Everyone is just running to protect what they can, to try to save their shelter from flooding. The rain didn't wash away our pain; it just made the rubble heavier and the cold deeper."

According to the UN-coordinated Shelter Cluster, 950,000 people are living in sites at medium or high risk of flooding over the coming months. More than 1.9 million people in Gaza urgently need shelter. Around 200,000 tents are old and severely worn out and unable to withstand strong winds and rainfall, with roughly 60% of tents requiring immediate replacement.

Israel has expelled Palestinians from approximately 65% of Gaza, confining almost 2.1 million people into 35% of the land. Gaza's electricity supply has been cut off. The price of engine oil for generators has reached $900 per litre, and around 70% of hospital generators are currently out of service.

The Israeli blockade continues to restrict the entry of humanitarian supplies including durable shelter materials, essential medical supplies and fuel. Islamic Relief has launched a winter appeal for displaced families but says far more assistance is needed.