On Tuesday, Gaza woke up to more devastation as heavy rain flooded the area overnight. Tents and shelters housing thousands of displaced families were submerged in a mix of rainwater and sewage.
The civil defense declared a state of emergency, overwhelmed by calls for help from residents whose makeshift homes were destroyed by the flooding.
“There are cases of drowning caused by the floods, and water mixed with sewage has spread across multiple areas in Gaza,” said Mahmoud Basal, a civil defense spokesperson, in an interview. “Unfortunately, we can’t respond to all the distress calls because we lack resources and equipment. On top of that, a severe fuel shortage limits our ability to move vehicles.”
Hundreds of shelters and thousands of tents, already damaged by over a year of war, were flooded, according to the Civil Defense Directorate.
“Our teams can only evacuate families to other locations, which are also unfit for living,” Basal added. “People are left exposed to the cold and heavy rain.”
Most temporary shelters in Gaza are built on sandy soil that quickly becomes waterlogged. Civil defense officials are urging the international community to act immediately to help those in need.
Tahani Masoud, a 31-year-old mother of two, described her family’s struggle living in a tent in central Gaza. “We don’t have mattresses, blankets, or anything to keep warm. Last night, the rain was so heavy that we were drowning,” she told. “My kids, who are four and two, coughed all night, their little bodies never getting warm.”
“Imagine sewage water flooding our tent, not just rainwater. The stench is unbearable, and we feel abandoned in this suffering,” she added.
Gaza’s drainage and sewer systems, already damaged by war, are unable to handle the rain. Over 175,000 meters of sewer lines and 15,000 meters of stormwater drains have been destroyed by Israeli bombing.
Asim Al Nabih, a municipal spokesperson in Gaza city, described the situation as unbearable. “Diseases are spreading due to the rain, and we don’t have the resources to help the displaced. Since the war started, the municipality has received no aid or equipment,” he said.
“The rain and sewage are overwhelming our damaged infrastructure. Families living in tents are suffering the most,” Al Nabih added.
Saed Al Za’anin, a father of four living in a tent at Al Shati camp for two months, described the harsh conditions. “We haven’t known relief since moving here. The kids are always sick,” he said.
“The cold is unbearable. Rainwater seeps into the tent at night, soaking us and causing illnesses like colds, flu, and stomach infections. The contamination only makes it worse. Living here is nothing but misery, sickness, and fear.”
