Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip – November 15, 2025 – Heavy rainfall struck the Gaza Strip on Saturday, flooding the sprawling Muwasi tent camp and further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the embattled enclave.

Residents struggled to divert water from their tents as rain poured through rips in tarpaulins and flimsy shelters. Strong winds compounded the damage, toppling tents and threatening the limited food and supplies families have managed to salvage amid two years of relentless conflict.

“I spent all Friday pushing water out of my tent,” said Bassil Naggar, who recently purchased a tent on the black market for 2,300 NIS ($712.50) after his previous shelter was ruined by the summer sun. “Water puddles are inches high, and there is no proper drainage.”

Barefoot children splashed through the muddy camp while women prepared tea under dark clouds. Some families took shelter in partially destroyed buildings despite the risk of collapse, using scraps of tarpaulin to cover gaping holes.

Humanitarian Strain

The United Nations estimates that Muwasi, originally undeveloped dunes, housed up to 425,000 displaced Palestinians this past summer, most living in temporary tents. The Israeli defense body managing humanitarian aid has allowed the entry of winterization materials, including blankets and heavy tarpaulins, but aid groups warn these measures are insufficient for the approaching winter, when temperatures are expected to plunge.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis stems from the Israeli military campaign that began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and left 251 hostages in captivity.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the offensive has killed 69,100 people, including many women and children, and displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents. Large parts of the territory remain in rubble, complicating the distribution of aid and reconstruction efforts.

The ceasefire agreement, which began on October 10, is approaching its next stage, which calls for the establishment of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. However, progress on these measures remains uncertain.

“There is simply no infrastructure to cope with the rain,” said an aid worker in Deir al-Balah. “Every downpour pushes the displaced further into crisis.”