Winter Flooding Crisis in Gaza

In the Gaza Strip, heavy winter rains have exacerbated the dire living conditions for over two million displaced residents, many of whom have been living in makeshift tents since the recent conflict. The latest downpour, which occurred on November 25, resulted in floodwaters rising between 40 to 50 centimeters in some areas, inundating shelters and destroying personal belongings. Assmaa Fayad, a resident of Deir al-Balah, expressed frustration, stating, “Where is Hamas? Where are the people to see this rain and how our children are drowning?”

Aid organizations have reported significant difficulties in providing necessary supplies to the affected population. The United Nations has indicated that while they have distributed over 3,600 tents and other winter supplies, the entry of aid into Gaza remains severely restricted by Israeli authorities. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres emphasized that “lifesaving humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without obstruction and at scale.” In response, the Israeli defense body, COGAT, stated that they are working on a dedicated response to the winter crisis, with additional winter-related requests from international organizations approved for entry in the coming days.

Despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, many residents and officials have criticized the pace and volume of aid entering Gaza. Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGOs Network, highlighted the urgent need for at least 300,000 new tents to accommodate the approximately 1.5 million displaced individuals. Residents like Jalal Ayyad lamented the deteriorating conditions of their tents, saying, “All of these tents are torn and the water is everywhere inside the tents.”

There is a notable discrepancy between the claims of aid delivery by Israeli authorities and the experiences of those on the ground. While COGAT reported that over 250,000 tarpaulins and 11,000 tents had recently entered Gaza, many residents assert that these supplies are insufficient and poorly distributed. Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement by not allowing adequate aid into the territory, while Israel maintains that it is fulfilling its obligations and blames aid agencies for inefficiencies.

• “This suffering, this rain – and the low-pressure weather systems haven’t even started yet. It’s only the beginning of winter, and we’re already flooded and humiliated,” — Ms. Um Ahmed Aowdah, Resident of Gaza

• “The water went in, in the mattresses and blankets, and all of it is full of water,” — Nuha Dina, Resident of Nakhil Camp

• “There is no place for me to go other than here and our tents are flooded.” — Jalal Ayyad, Resident of Deir al-Balah

• “Lifesaving humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without obstruction and at scale,” — António Guterres, U.N. Secretary General

As winter progresses, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is expected to worsen unless significant improvements in aid delivery and infrastructure restoration occur. The combination of ongoing restrictions and the recent severe weather has left many families in precarious situations, struggling to cope with the aftermath of both the conflict and the flooding.