70,000 Tents Flooded: Gaza Storm Leaves Displaced Families Without Shelter
Storm damage in the Gaza Strip has destroyed roughly $3 million in property and forced nearly 400,000 people to seek refuge in vulnerable locations.
By Lucas Collins ·
Heavy rains and strong winds have flooded tens of thousands of makeshift shelters in the Gaza Strip, leaving displaced Palestinians with little protection from the elements. The storm, which began late Friday, has intensified a humanitarian crisis by damaging the primary housing for families already struggling to survive.
The conflict in Gaza started on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Since that date, more than 74,640 people have been killed in the territory. A ceasefire took effect in October 2025, but at least 1,610 Palestinians have died since that agreement was reached. The war has devastated homes and infrastructure, leading many residents to live in temporary structures that are vulnerable to severe weather.
Gaza's Government Media Office stated that about 70,000 tents were inundated during the recent storm. The office estimated the total damage at roughly $3 million. The agency also reported that dozens of walls collapsed under the weight of the rain and wind. These events have occurred while Israel maintains tight restrictions on the entry of aid supplies into the territory.
In Deir el-Balah, located in central Gaza, displaced families reported receiving no food aid since early Saturday. Ashraf Abu Amra, reporting from the area, noted that the flooding has compounded an already severe situation. Relief organizations have stated they have struggled for years to bring aid and shelter materials into the strip, making the recent storm particularly damaging to those already in need.
Al Jazeera correspondent Ibrahim al-Khalili reported from Gaza City on Sunday that the storm exposed the fragility of current shelters. He described soaked mattresses, pillows, and clothing left behind by floodwaters. Al-Khalili said that heavy rains and strong winds tore through shelters that families had spent days trying to reinforce.
The Gaza Civil Defence received at least 1,500 emergency calls during the storm. The agency warned that more than 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapse. It also stated that at least 300,000 tents are needed to adequately shelter displaced people affected by the weather. Currently, nearly 400,000 displaced Palestinians are sheltering in locations considered highly vulnerable to further flooding.
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF's special representative in Palestine, said most people in Gaza are living in terrible conditions. He appealed for increased funding to deliver urgently needed assistance. The storm has highlighted the ongoing challenges of providing stable shelter for the displaced population in the region.
