Gaza Strip – November 14, 2025 – The first major rainfall of the season has intensified the suffering of thousands of residents in the Gaza Strip, where many live in temporary shelters amid the ruins of two years of conflict.

The civil defence authority, controlled by Hamas, reported that flooding had affected thousands of tents housing internally displaced people, describing the situation as a disaster. Videos circulating on social and Palestinian media show residents attempting to remove water from their shelters using buckets.

Despite a ceasefire in effect since October 10, many residents continue to live in precarious conditions in areas heavily damaged during the war. Temporary shelters offer minimal protection from the weather, leaving families exposed to cold and damp conditions.

“All our bedding, clothes, and some of our food supplies are ruined,” said Amal Abu Hassan, 32, a mother of four from Gaza City, after her family’s tent was flooded.

In Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, Fatima al-Masri, 28, described the situation as unbearable. “My children are coughing, the streets are flooded, and we have lost everything. We have not yet received any help,” she said.

In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Ahmed al-Khatib, 45, reported, “All my belongings are soaked. We have nowhere dry to sleep.” He also noted that power outages were affecting the area due to fallen pylons.

Aid groups have warned that heavy rains, combined with destroyed infrastructure, pose a serious risk to health and safety, particularly as winter approaches.

“These conditions put already vulnerable families at even greater risk,” said one humanitarian worker in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with tens of thousands of residents still displaced and limited access to food, water, and shelter.