Rainwater flooded several displacement camps in the Gaza Strip as Palestine was affected by a deep low-pressure system expected to continue until Friday evening, bringing cold weather and a significant drop in temperatures.
The Palestinian Meteorological Department reported a noticeable temperature drop on Thursday, leading to cold, rainy, and windy weather. This has proven catastrophic for displaced families living in already dilapidated tents.
Displaced persons in southern Gaza reported rainwater seeping into and flooding their temporary shelters, causing extensive damage. They stated the worn-out tents, offering little protection from cold or flooding, could not withstand the ongoing storm.
Heavy rains flood an entire refugee camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Tents and belongings of displaced families are swept away, leaving hundreds of households exposed and struggling against the severe winter storm. pic.twitter.com/wHNkY70fL7
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 11, 2025
Civil Defense teams in Khan Younis’ Mawasi area said they responded to 14 cases of flooded tents since dawn, evacuating residents to safer locations. Rescue efforts are focused on pumping water from camps and relocating some tents to less flood-prone areas, though they are hampered by limited resources.
Families across multiple areas complained that water inundated the sleeping quarters of children, women, and the elderly, asserting that existing protective measures in the camps failed against the storm’s severity. Video footage showed displaced people desperately trying to salvage soaked mattresses and blankets while protecting children from the cold and floodwaters.
Civil defense teams in Khan Yunis evacuated an elderly Palestinian woman after her tent was flooded by heavy rain in Al Mawasi area, southern Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Od9Vk3o1Ih
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 11, 2025
Civil Defense: Over 1,000 Flooding Reports; Urgent Appeal for Caravans
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal stated the agency has received more than 1,000 appeals since dawn Wednesday regarding storm-related flooding, with water levels in some shelters exceeding one meter.
In Gaza, displaced families struggle through heavy rains as their tents flood, leaving them exposed to cold and winter.
Israel’s ongoing blockade on aid and reconstruction prevents them from accessing proper shelter and support, forcing many to endure the storm in fragile… pic.twitter.com/39QXLrUAP1
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 11, 2025
In a press statement, he explained that flooding in tents across the Strip has exacerbated the suffering of residents already enduring bitter cold without basic protection. Belongings, clothing, and blankets have been completely submerged, leaving people with no alternatives for warmth or dryness.
Basal stated that the catastrophic conditions have overwhelmed Gaza’s exhausted service system, which is incapable of coping with the severe humanitarian escalation expected as the storm continues. He emphasized that tents of all origins are unfit for human habitation, offering no real protection from cold or leaks.
The harsh reality facing displaced families in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza, comes into sharper focus as they endure yet another night of brutal weather inside overcrowded and fragile displacement centers. pic.twitter.com/yeLFphFvTf
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 11, 2025
He issued an urgent call for the introduction of caravans as a temporary solution to rescue hundreds of thousands of displaced people. These elevated shelters, he stressed, must be equipped with minimum basic infrastructure: toilets, kitchens, rooms, and solar power systems to maintain essential services.
Basal urged international organizations and all capable parties to immediately fulfill their humanitarian responsibilities by providing relief and alternative housing to protect the population from continued flooding and cold.
Source: Al-Manar and agencies
