Torrential rains that fell Friday and early Saturday have worsened the suffering of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza, flooding fragile tents amid dire humanitarian conditions caused by the Israeli occupation's ongoing aggression since October 7, 2023.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed concern that thousands of displaced families are now fully exposed to harsh weather, raising serious health and protection risks.
The Israeli assault has destroyed approximately 92% of Gaza's residential buildings, forcing most residents into unsafe tents or back into damaged homes at risk of collapse during floods.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that shelter partners deployed rapid response teams and distributed aid in recent days, including 1,000 tents in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis, 7,000 blankets to over 1,800 families, 15,000 tarpaulins to 3,700 families, and winter clothing for more than 500 families.
OCHA noted that effective flood prevention requires equipment unavailable in Gaza, such as water drainage tools and debris removal systems.
The office also warned that deteriorating living conditions heighten the risk of explosive remnants, especially for children.
Some injuries occurred while collecting firewood, and families have been forced to pitch tents near suspected hazardous areas due to lack of safe alternatives.
Since the ceasefire began on October 11, Israeli forces have committed dozens of violations, resulting in 261 Palestinian deaths and 632 injuries, with 533 bodies recovered from the rubble.
According to official statistics, the Israeli aggression has killed at least 69,187 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 170,703 others. Many victims remain trapped under debris, unreachable by rescue teams.
