Floods in Gaza leave tens of thousands without shelter

What the report says

Heavy rain and strong winds have flooded parts of Gaza since late Friday, damaging tents and improvised shelters used by displaced Palestinians, according to Al Jazeera and local authorities. The reporting says tens of thousands of people have been affected across the territory, with the worst damage reported in areas where families are already living in highly exposed makeshift accommodation.

Gaza’s Government Media Office said about 70,000 tents were flooded and dozens of walls came down. The Civil Defence reported receiving at least 1,500 emergency calls and said more than 2,000 buildings could be at risk of collapse. It also said roughly 300,000 tents are needed to provide adequate shelter. Al Jazeera’s correspondents in Gaza City and Deir el-Balah described waterlogged bedding and belongings, and said some displaced families had not received food aid since early Saturday.

The storm has added to an already severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where shelters, infrastructure and basic services have been badly damaged by the war and where aid deliveries remain constrained, according to the article. UNICEF’s special representative in Palestine urged more funding to help people living in poor conditions. Al Jazeera also noted the Government Media Office put the storm-related damage at about $3m, though relief groups have faced longstanding difficulties getting supplies into the enclave.