Arabic version: أمطار غزيرة تغمر خيام النازحين في غزة

According to Al Jazeera, heavy rain that began late on Friday flooded more than 70,000 tents across Gaza, worsening conditions for displaced Palestinians sheltering in vulnerable locations. Gaza’s Government Media Office said hundreds of thousands of people were at risk of further flooding.

In az-Zawayda in central Gaza, Jaber al-Kaseeh said water rushed into his family’s tent on Saturday night, soaking mattresses, carpets and blankets and spoiling food. Al-Kaseeh, who is in his 70s and originally from Beit Lahiya, said this was his fourth winter in a tent and that the camp had flooded several times last winter.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel has continued to restrict the entry of goods into Gaza, including 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents, more than a year after a ceasefire deal was signed between Israel and Hamas. Only 20,000 tents have been allowed in, the report said, while mobile homes remained on the Egyptian side of the border.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates Gaza needs about 121,000 tents and 561,000 tarpaulins. Ramy Abdu, chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, said shelter materials and prefabricated housing units remained stranded at Gaza’s borders because of Israeli restrictions.

Jihad Dawwas, 51, said rainwater soaked the mattresses in his tent while strong winds blew away nearby shelters. He is sheltering with seven of his children and three orphaned children of his brother. Dawwas said his children had nowhere dry to sleep and that some became ill from the cold and storm.