Hundreds of Gaza tents submerged as winter floods deepen humanitarian crisis in Khan Younis

Torrential rainfall across the Gaza Strip has submerged hundreds of Palestinian displacement tents in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, compounding the suffering of families already enduring catastrophic humanitarian conditions following Israel's two-year military campaign. The flooding, caused by an intense low-pressure system accompanied by cold air masses, has left thousands exposed to freezing temperatures without adequate shelter, blankets, or heating fuel.

Uninhabitable Shelters and Critical Shortages

Medical sources have warned that approximately 127,000 of 135,000 tents across Gaza are now uninhabitable, offering no protection from winter elements . The shortage of blankets and heating exceeds 70% territory-wide, with displaced families lacking basic insulation from the cold and damp ground . Civil defense crews in Rafah reported receiving multiple emergency calls after tents were submerged, evacuating families whose shelters collapsed under the weight of rainwater . In some areas, Palestinians resorted to animal-drawn carts for transportation through flooded roads as modern vehicles proved unusable.

Compounding Crises Amid Blockade

The flooding disaster unfolds as reconstruction materials stipulated under the October 2025 ceasefire agreement remain largely unimplemented, with Israel continuing to restrict vital humanitarian supplies . According to Gaza's Government Media Office, only an average of 234 aid trucks enter daily—far below the 600 trucks stipulated in the agreement . The UN has identified shelter, water, sanitation, health, and food security as the most urgent humanitarian needs, with nearly 40% of Gaza's population living in flood-prone locations and over 1.5 million people forcibly displaced .

Health Crisis and Fatalities

At least 35 storm-related fatalities have been recorded since December 2025, including 11 children who died from hypothermia . Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital was receiving approximately 500 patients daily by January, with 200 presenting acute respiratory symptoms from constant cold exposure . The ACAPS briefing note confirmed that Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis remain the areas most severely affected, where high-velocity winds repeatedly compromise tent integrity . Water levels in inland lagoons have risen, heightening sewage contamination risks and exposure to waterborne diseases . The international community faces urgent calls to provide weather-resistant shelters and caravans as winter conditions persist.