Severe flooding across the Gaza Strip has caused widespread damage to temporary shelters housing displaced Palestinians, according to local authorities and international journalists reporting from the territory. The heavy rains and strong winds that began late Friday affected approximately 70,000 tents and caused structural damage to dozens of walls, with the Government Media Office estimating total damage at $3 million.
Near 400,000 displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering in locations deemed highly vulnerable to flooding, according to reporting from Gaza City. Correspondents documented extensive water damage to personal items, including mattresses, pillows, and clothing. The Gaza Civil Defence reported receiving at least 1,500 emergency calls related to the storm, while also noting that more than 2,000 buildings face collapse risk and approximately 300,000 additional tents are needed to provide adequate shelter for those affected.
The flooding has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis in the region. Families whose shelters were flooded in central Gaza had not received food assistance since early Saturday, according to reporting from that area. Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s special representative in Palestine, characterized living conditions as “terrible” and called for increased funding to support relief operations.
Relief organizations have faced ongoing challenges in delivering aid to Gaza due to restrictions on supply imports. The flooding compounds difficulties already present in the territory, where infrastructure damage and supply limitations have hampered relief efforts for an extended period.
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