Gaza Floods Expose Harsh Winter Crisis in Tent Camps

Gaza’s tent camps turned into muddy rivers this week as winter storm Byron swept across the war-torn territory, leaving thousands of displaced Palestinians battling soaked shelters and plunging temperatures. Families huddled inside tents watched helplessly as rainwater destroyed what little belongings they had left.

Children waded through knee-deep brown water, their sandals lost in the filth. Dirt pathways turned into treacherous mudslides, while nearby piles of garbage and raw sewage overflowed, mixing with the flood. “We have been drowned. I don’t have clothes to wear and we have no mattresses left,” said Um Salman Abu Qenas, a mother in Khan Younis, describing a sleepless night spent on waterlogged bedding.

Across the camp, Sabreen Qudeeh recounted waking to rain leaking from the ceiling, soaking her family’s mattresses. Ahmad Abu Taha, another resident, said no tent was spared. “Conditions are very bad. We have old people, displaced, and sick people inside this camp,” he added.

Aid Shortfalls Worsen the Crisis

The storm highlighted Gaza’s fragile infrastructure, devastated by years of conflict. The population of about 2 million is largely displaced, living in tents or among the ruins of damaged buildings with minimal protection from the elements. According to local civil defense reports, at least three partially damaged buildings in Gaza City collapsed under the rain, and more than 2,500 emergency calls were received during the storm.

Aid distribution under the ongoing ceasefire remains insufficient. While Israel claims it has allowed 260,000 tents, tarpaulins, and over 1,500 trucks of blankets and warm clothing into Gaza, independent assessments show only a fraction of the 300,000 tents needed have arrived. Many tents lack insulation, and critical equipment such as water pumps remains blocked, leaving residents struggling to remove floodwater.

Families like Aliaa Bahtiti’s are forced to mop inches of water from their tent floors. Her 8-year-old son “was soaked overnight, and in the morning he had turned blue, sleeping on water,” she said. Baraka Bhar, caring for 3-month-old twins including one with hydrocephalus, added, “Our tents are worn out ... and they leak rain water. We should not lose our children this winter.”

A Humanitarian Emergency

The winter floods are compounding the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. While international and local agencies continue efforts to deliver aid, the pace of relief falls far short of what is needed. Thousands remain exposed to the cold, unsanitary conditions that heighten the risk of illness and infection, emphasizing the urgent need for effective shelter, clothing, and medical support.