Heavy rains flood tents of displaced people in Gaza amid stalled relief efforts

Local authorities in Gaza said on Saturday that heavy rains flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians, sweeping away some makeshift shelters and soaking blankets and mattresses.

The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza said that at least 70,000 tents were flooded in the past 12 hours, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people and causing injuries, though no deaths were reported.

The Civil Defense Directorate in the Gaza Strip said it received 1,500 calls for help from displaced people, adding that three abandoned houses collapsed, but no injuries were reported.

In one area of ​​Gaza City, some residents tried to repair their tents, while others used sand to reinforce barriers and prevent water from seeping into the tents. Some were busy getting their children out of the flooded tents.

Alfat Majdoub tried in vain to keep the water away from her tent.

“This is the first day of rain, and of course we’re flooded,” she said. “What will happen the next day? This is just the first day, and we’re already flooded.”

She added, “Last winter, two weeks ago, it rained, I swear to God, I swear to God, for four days I slept on the blankets because the rain soaked the bed.”

Municipal and civil defense officials said they were unable to cope with the storm due to fuel shortages and damaged equipment.

They pointed out that Israel destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and other machinery used for pumping water, during the war that displaced most of the Gaza Strip’s more than two million residents and reduced large parts of the territory to rubble. Most residents are now living in tents.

Hamas accused Israel of preventing the entry of shelters and building materials into Gaza.