Severe storm threatens Gaza camps with flooding and destruction
15:47, 14/11/2025, FridayU: Update: 15:48, 14/11/2025, Friday
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Abdalhkem Abu RiashAA
File photoA powerful storm is battering the Gaza Strip, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that pose a severe threat to the flimsy tent camps housing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians. Civil Defense authorities have issued urgent warnings about the risks of flooding and tent collapses, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
A severe weather system has descended upon the Gaza Strip, unleashing heavy rainfall and powerful winds that threaten to inundate the precarious tent settlements sheltering a massive displaced population. The new storm compounds the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where authorities warn that flooding could sweep away tents and collapse already damaged structures.
Urgent Warnings for Displaced Families
Urgent Warnings for Displaced Families
The Gaza Civil Defense has issued a series of urgent guidelines for displaced families living in tents, particularly those in coastal areas exposed to the strongest winds. The agency urged residents to secure their tents firmly, create sand barriers to block seawater intrusion, and dig drainage channels to divert rainwater. They also warned families to avoid heavily bombed buildings that might collapse from the rain and cautioned against lighting fires inside tents due to the extreme fire risk.
A Recurring Catastrophe
A Recurring Catastrophe
For displaced families, the storm evokes traumatic memories of previous rainy seasons that destroyed their temporary shelters and meager belongings. Over the past two years, strong winds have repeatedly blown away or torn apart tents, leaving families exposed to the elements. According to the Gaza Media Office, an estimated 125,000 of the 135,000 displacement tents—approximately 93%—are no longer suitable for shelter due to weather damage and the effects of Israeli bombardment.
Broader Humanitarian Crisis
Broader Humanitarian Crisis
The situation is further aggravated by Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, which have prevented the entry of replacement tents and shelter materials. This violates terms of recent ceasefire agreements that included provisions for rebuilding Gaza. The storm arrives as the coastal territory continues to grapple with the devastating aftermath of military operations that have left tens of thousands dead and reduced much of the infrastructure to rubble, creating a humanitarian catastrophe that continues to draw concern from nations including Türkiye.