Heavy rain floods Gaza camps and puts war-damaged buildings at risk of collapse

Heavy rain and strong winds have flooded shelters in Gaza, leaving families in al-Mina camp in the north struggling to protect children and belongings from the cold. Water entered tents overnight, soaking bedding, blankets and clothes and turning parts of the camp into muddy pools. The storm has also raised concern about war-damaged buildings, which are reported to be at risk of collapse in the wet weather.

In Gaza City, Rana Adnan Hmeida, 29, said she and her family had been awake since midnight as rainwater seeped into their tent. She said her two-month-old daughter was freezing by morning, while her son and other children were shivering after their bedding and clothes became wet. Her husband, Sameh Hmeida, 30, said the family's tent was especially exposed because it was close to the sea and lacked tarpaulins or insulating material.

The flooding has affected camps and cities across Gaza over the past days, with water levels rising by 30 to 40cm in several camps after Saturday's rain. Gaza's civil defence agency has received hundreds of calls, according to the report. In al-Mina camp, where about 1,700 Palestinian families live, rainwater flooded many tents and left residents trying to dry clothes and salvage what they could.

The latest storm adds to the hardship facing many Palestinians who are spending a fourth winter outside their homes since the war began in October 2023. The combination of heavy rain, strong winds and damaged infrastructure has increased the risk to people living in temporary shelters. It has also highlighted the vulnerability of buildings weakened by bombardment, where structural damage can become more dangerous in wet and windy conditions.

One resident, Raed Abu Amsha, said his tent collapsed on top of his family during the storm. He said the clothes and blankets of all nine children in his care were soaked, including four children from his late brother. His account underlines the scale of the disruption for families already living with displacement, loss and limited protection from the weather.

What remains unclear is how many people have been directly affected across Gaza and whether further damage will follow if the rain continues. The immediate need appears to be for tents, tarpaulins and other shelter materials, alongside support for families whose belongings have been soaked. The situation also raises questions about the safety of damaged buildings and how many more may be at risk if severe weather persists.

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