Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza are facing a new wave of suffering after heavy rainfall flooded large sections of the tent camps where they have been living for months.

A deep low-pressure system reached the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, bringing intense rain, cold weather, and strong winds. The severe conditions have caused widespread flooding in the makeshift shelters that house hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.

According to the Palestinian Meteorological Department, temperatures have dropped significantly and rainfall is expected to continue across the region. Some areas also witnessed hail and thunderstorms.

Families living in the overcrowded camps reported that rainwater entered their tents within minutes, leaving children and elderly people exposed to the cold. Many tents became unusable as water seeped through their thin, worn-out fabric. Displaced families struggled to protect blankets, mattresses, and limited food supplies from the flooding.

Civil Defense teams in Gaza stated that at least 14 tents were submerged on Thursday morning, forcing residents to relocate to slightly higher ground. The teams warned that risks in the camps are increasing due to the continuation of the storm.

Eyewitnesses said that rainwater reached sleeping areas in several camps, while families attempted to build makeshift barriers using sand, plastic sheets, and blankets. The continuous rainfall intensified damage, particularly because most tents are made from material that offers little protection against winter conditions.

The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, combined with the lack of proper housing, has deepened the humanitarian crisis. Displaced families continue to face cold, mud, flooding, and rising health risks as winter progresses.

Thousands of Palestinians, many of whom have been displaced multiple times since the beginning of the Israeli attacks, are struggling to survive under deteriorating weather conditions and the absence of adequate shelter. (ILKHA)