Andrea Innocenti Last Saturday, heavy rainfall hit the Gaza Strip, causing numerous refugee camps to flood. Residents in areas like the Remal neighborhood of Gaza City were suddenly forced to flee their tents , which were now inundated by high water. The situation rapidly deteriorated due to a lack of resources and logistical constraints that limited the humanitarian authorities' response.
Tens of thousands of tents flooded in Gaza Strip
According to local authorities, approximately 70.000 tents suffered water infiltration within the first 12 hours of rain. This number represents a significant portion of the displaced people living in makeshift shelters following the conflict that began last October. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that nearly one million people are at risk of flooding , with water levels reaching 300-400 mm in some camps.
Requests for help and lack of resources
The Palestinian Civil Defense Service received more than 1.500 emergency calls overnight, reporting injuries and people trapped in collapsed homes. Rescuers reported operating "without adequate equipment," highlighting a severe shortage of pumps, vehicles, and fuel. The lack of tarpaulins and materials to repair structures makes the intervention even more difficult, leaving the population in a state of extreme vulnerability.
Causes and Liability: Equipment Damage and Restrictions on Assistance
Hamas authorities accused Israel of destroying numerous relief vehicles, including bulldozers and water pumps, during military operations. This limited its ability to respond to weather emergencies. Meanwhile, the Israeli coordinator for COGAT claimed to have intensified operations to improve sanitary conditions before the rains arrived, but did not directly comment on the sabotage allegations.
Damage to rescue infrastructure
Over the course of the week, four new vacuum trucks were deployed by the International Red Cross, adding to the eight already present, to support wastewater pumping and waste removal. However, the speed of deployment of these vehicles is insufficient given the extent of the flooding, especially considering the difficult access to an area where most of the population is living in temporary tents .
Impact on the population and testimonies from the field
Residents' testimonies paint a scene of desperation. One woman, Olfat Magdoub, described spending four days on soaked blankets during the previous rains and having to sleep on the floor again due to wet mattresses. Another displaced person, Rafiq Ghattas, was photographed barefoot in a swamp, declaring, "We have no resources, no tarps or tents, and no one is monitoring our situation." These statements highlight the urgency of international intervention to prevent the water crisis from turning into a health catastrophe.