Gaza Endures First Major Winter Rains Amid Devastated Infrastructure
The Gaza Strip struggles with flooding and damaged infrastructure following two years of conflict as heavy winter rains cause widespread destruction to makeshift shelters.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: The initial significant rainfall of the season has caused extensive damage in the Gaza Strip, where residents are facing challenges due to inadequate infrastructure.
The Muwasi tent camp, which hosts approximately 425,000 displaced Palestinians, was severely impacted by the heavy rain, according to the United Nations.
Residents attempted to mitigate the flooding by digging trenches to redirect water away from their tents.
However, the intermittent rainfall led to leaks in the tarpaulins and makeshift shelters, causing significant damage to the scant belongings of families.
The situation is exacerbated by strong winds that can topple tents and disrupt efforts to gather food and supplies.
Bassil Naggar, a resident who recently purchased a new tent due to the wear from the summer sun, found himself battling to keep water out of his shelter.
Despite spending all of Friday pushing the water away, his neighbors' shelters were completely inundated.
The lack of proper drainage is a major concern for many residents.
The Israeli defense body responsible for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has allowed winterization materials, such as blankets and heavy tarpaulins, into the territory.
However, aid organizations warn that these efforts are insufficient given the plummeting temperatures and harsh winter conditions.
As the rain continued to threaten further destruction, some residents sought refuge in damaged buildings, even those at risk of collapse, covered with makeshift tarpaulin patches.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant devastation.
The war has claimed over 69,100 lives, including many women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Approximately 90% of the population of roughly 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.
The current ceasefire agreement is nearing its end, with the next stage calling for the establishment of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
The status of these initiatives remains unclear.
The Muwasi tent camp, which hosts approximately 425,000 displaced Palestinians, was severely impacted by the heavy rain, according to the United Nations.
Residents attempted to mitigate the flooding by digging trenches to redirect water away from their tents.
However, the intermittent rainfall led to leaks in the tarpaulins and makeshift shelters, causing significant damage to the scant belongings of families.
The situation is exacerbated by strong winds that can topple tents and disrupt efforts to gather food and supplies.
Bassil Naggar, a resident who recently purchased a new tent due to the wear from the summer sun, found himself battling to keep water out of his shelter.
Despite spending all of Friday pushing the water away, his neighbors' shelters were completely inundated.
The lack of proper drainage is a major concern for many residents.
The Israeli defense body responsible for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has allowed winterization materials, such as blankets and heavy tarpaulins, into the territory.
However, aid organizations warn that these efforts are insufficient given the plummeting temperatures and harsh winter conditions.
As the rain continued to threaten further destruction, some residents sought refuge in damaged buildings, even those at risk of collapse, covered with makeshift tarpaulin patches.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant devastation.
The war has claimed over 69,100 lives, including many women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Approximately 90% of the population of roughly 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.
The current ceasefire agreement is nearing its end, with the next stage calling for the establishment of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
The status of these initiatives remains unclear.
