Cairo: SiltaNews – News Desk
Torrential rains on Tuesday flooded thousands of tents in the Gaza Strip, worsening conditions for displaced Palestinians who face the prospect of a harsh winter without adequate shelter, Reuters reported. The Palestinian Civil Defence Service reported that many tents housing families forced from their homes during the war were inundated or damaged, with floodwaters reaching up to 50 centimeters in some areas.
Witnesses said some tents were completely washed away, and a field hospital suspended operations due to the flooding. Gaza, home to more than 2 million people, saw mass displacement following Israel’s two-year war after Hamas’ October 2023 attacks. Many residents continue to live in tents or makeshift shelters.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said thousands of displaced residents are struggling to secure safe shelter as winter approaches and called for more emergency supplies. Currently, over 79,000 displaced people are accommodated in 85 UNRWA-managed shelters.
Aid delivery remains constrained. The UN said on Monday that despite ongoing efforts to bring in winter supplies, a limited number of trucks are allowed into Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on aid convoys.