Heavy rains and a severe storm swept through displacement camps in Gaza, flooding the tents of thousands of already displaced families, the territory's Civil Defence said. The agency reported receiving 1,500 distress calls within a 10-hour period as water inundated makeshift shelters, destroying bedding, food supplies and personal belongings. Many families, already uprooted by the ongoing conflict, were forced to abandon their flooded tents and seek shelter elsewhere, with some reportedly standing in standing water for hours awaiting assistance. Civil Defence teams said they were overwhelmed by the volume of calls and lacked sufficient equipment to pump water from all affected sites. The storm compounded an already dire humanitarian situation, in which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are living in overcrowded, poorly constructed camps with limited access to drainage, heating or adequate sanitation.
Aid organizations have repeatedly warned that winter conditions pose a grave threat to displaced populations in Gaza, where shelter materials remain scarce and infrastructure has been severely damaged. The flooding raises renewed concerns about the spread of disease and hypothermia among vulnerable groups, particularly children and the elderly. Civil Defence officials urged international agencies to expedite the delivery of tents, waterproof coverings and drainage equipment, warning that further storms could displace thousands more. Humanitarian workers described scenes of families attempting to salvage soaked mattresses and clothing while children waded through muddy water. The full extent of the damage remained unclear as assessments continued. Neither Israeli authorities nor Palestinian officials immediately issued additional statements on the flooding or on plans for emergency relief.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.