DEIR AL-BALAH, November 9, 2026 — Heavy rains over the past 12 hours have flooded at least 70,000 tents across Gaza displacement camps, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Government Media Office. The Gaza Civil Defence reported receiving more than 1,500 distress calls from displaced residents as shelters were inundated.
Sewage Contamination in Deir al-Balah
In Deir al-Balah, pathways in displacement camps turned into pools of sewage water, not just rainwater, UN News reported. A displaced person quoted by UN News said, “This water is sewage water, not just rainwater.” UN News said UN warnings tied the flooding to the failure of sewage and rainwater drainage networks to operate regularly due to fuel shortages, spare parts, and damage to infrastructure during the war.
Critical Shelter Shortfall
OCHA stated Gaza needed about 121,000 tents for the rainy season, but shelter partners had stock of only about 2,800 tents inside the Strip. The International Organisation for Migration’s Gaza programme head, Karl Baker, said worn-out tents have collapsed and children are wading through knee-deep, contaminated floodwater. He said Palestinians in Gaza need stronger and longer-lasting shelter options, including timber emergency shelter kits and prefabricated relief housing units, which must be funded and allowed into Gaza.
Health Risks and Hypothermia Warning
UNICEF special representative Jonathan Veitch warned of potential deaths from hypothermia if help does not arrive quickly. He said last year winter caused deaths from hypothermia and the same can be expected now without rapid assistance. Displaced families in Deir al-Balah had not received food aid since early Saturday, according to UN News.
Import Restrictions and Infrastructure Damage
Israeli regulations restrict the import of heavy machinery and building materials into the Strip, according to aid workers. Municipal and civil defence officials said they were unable to cope with the storm because of fuel shortages and damage to equipment, noting Israel had destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and water pumps, during the war. The Gaza Government Media Office estimated storm damage at $3 million.
Displacement at Scale
Nearly 400,000 displaced Palestinians were sheltering in locations considered highly vulnerable to flooding, according to UN News. Around 90 percent of the Strip’s residents have been driven from their homes due to fighting, UNICEF reported. Maryam Odah, 34, a resident of Deir al-Balah, told AFP: “We don’t know how to protect our children. The children asked me where we would sleep today, and I had no answer.”
Sources
- Heavy rains swamp tens of thousands of tents across Gaza | CNN
- Heavy rains swamp tens of thousands of tents across Gaza | CNN
- Floods kill two in Iraq and swamp tens of thousands of tents in Gaza as heavy rain hits region | The National
- Heavy Rains Flood Gaza Displacement Camps, Sewage Water Worsens Palestinian Refugees’ Suffering: 6 outlets compared | NewsCord
- Gaza floods: heavy rain swamps tents, leaving people without shelter
Photo: شنكوتي (CC0)
