Gaza’s Displaced Face Severe Winter Flooding

Displaced Palestinians in Gaza are facing further hardships as heavy winter rains and strong winds flood tents and makeshift camps, compounding more than two years of suffering under Israel’s siege and bombardment.

Flimsy shelters, already the only refuge for many residents after 80% of Gaza’s buildings were destroyed, have been submerged in mud and contaminated water, creating dangerous conditions for the population.

---

Rising Death Toll and Dangers from Flooding

Authorities report that at least 15 people, including infants, have died from hypothermia this month. Two-month-old Arkan Firas Musleh was the latest infant casualty due to extreme cold.

• In Gaza City, a Palestinian man died when a building collapsed onto a tent in Tel al-Hawa.
• A 30-year-old woman was killed in Remal when a partially destroyed wall fell onto her shelter during strong winds.

Officials continue to warn against sheltering in damaged buildings, but tents offer minimal protection against flooding and extreme weather.

---

Contaminated Floodwaters Heighten Health Risks

Flooding has brought sewage and debris into living areas, increasing the threat of disease and illness.

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported from Zeitoun, where streets are filled with deep puddles and thick mud:

“People are struggling to walk in those mud puddles. These are not only water, but it’s also sewage, rubbish.”

Municipal workers are attempting to pump sewage from overwhelmed networks, but residents continue to report sewage water entering their tents.

---

Calls for International Aid and Access

Humanitarian organizations are urging the international community to pressure Israel to allow sufficient aid into Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, warned on social media:

“Harsh winter weather is compounding more than two years of suffering. People in Gaza are surviving in flimsy, waterlogged tents and among ruins. Aid supplies are not being allowed in at the scale required.”

Despite a ceasefire effective from October 10, Israeli attacks have continued, including air raids and artillery shelling in Jabalia, Bureij, Rafah, and east of Gaza City, resulting in injuries to at least three Palestinians on Monday.

---

Ceasefire Challenges and Ongoing Violence

Since the truce, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports more than 414 Palestinians killed and over 1,100 injured due to ceasefire violations.

While the first phase of a US-brokered plan led to captive exchanges and partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, almost half of Gaza remains occupied, and humanitarian aid flows are far below what was promised.

The combination of flooded tents, contaminated water, and ongoing attacks underscores the urgent need for expanded humanitarian access to prevent further deaths and suffering in Gaza.