Flooded tents leave Gaza’s displaced exposed as winter rains worsen

Heavy rains have flooded over 70,000 tents in Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians exposed to harsh winter conditions as Israel continues to block entry of mobile homes and shelter supplies. Jaber al-Kaseeh, a 70-year-old displaced from Beit Lahiya, described water rushing into his tent in az-Zawayda, soaking belongings and spoiling food. Gaza’s Government Media Office reported the flooding began late Friday, with many camps considered highly vulnerable to further damage. This marks the fourth winter in tents for many families, with over 90 percent of Palestinians displaced since October 2023. Israel has allowed only 20,000 of 200,000 promised tents, while mobile homes remain parked on the Egyptian border. The UN reports Gaza needs approximately 121,000 tents and 561,000 tarpaulins.