Gaza’s Civil Defense: Over 1,500 tents sheltering displaced people flooded

GAZA, Jan. 01 (YPA) – Gaza Civil Defense said that over 1,500 tents sheltering displaced people in Gaza’s displacement camps and shelters were flooded due to heavy rainfall across the war-torn enclave in the past two days.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the emergency service said rescue teams had found hundreds of tents flooded, with water levels exceeding 30 cm. Many displaced people were affected by the cold, experiencing shivering and damage to their belongings and mattresses.

In Gaza City, Civil Defense teams tracked 242 flooded tents in camps located on Yarmouk Stadium grounds and Gaza Municipality Park, 185 tents in the Saraya complex area, and 70 tents in the Shujaiya parking area.

In Rafah, 170 tents along the coastal road and around the “Fesh Fresh” rest area were flooded. In Khan Yunis, more than 665 tents in areas like Al-Aqsa University, around the Asda prison, and the Barakah neighborhood were also inundated.

In central Gaza, flooding affected around 210 tents in areas such as western Deir al-Balah, Al-Basa, and Wadi al-Salqa.

Displaced residents in the southern Gaza area of al-Mawasi reported nights of misery as relentless rain overwhelmed their shelters. Floodwaters rendered over 100,000 tents unusable while many tents were torn apart by strong winds, offering no protection against the freezing weather.

In central Gaza, conditions were equally grim. Over a million displaced individuals face severe food shortages as Israeli restrictions choke the entry of humanitarian aid. Many now rely on charity kitchens to survive.

@E.Y.M