Shelters Submerged as Rain Lashes War-Torn Gaza
Heavy rainfall has flooded temporary shelters housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave. Families already enduring overcrowding, food shortages, and scarce medical care now confront waterlogged tents, ruined belongings, and unsanitary living conditions.
A Crisis Within a Crisis: Floods Compound War Trauma
The downpour transformed makeshift refugee camps into swamps, with rainwater breaching flimsy tents made of tarpaulin and plastic. Social media footage shows displaced children wading through knee-deep water, their few surviving items soaked.
“We escaped bombs only to live in mud,” said Umm Ahmed, a mother of four in a Rafah shelter. “No dry clothes, no blankets—just cold and sickness.”
Aid Agencies Overwhelmed as Sanitation Collapses
Humanitarian groups like UNRWA warn of cholera and other disease outbreaks due to flooded latrines and contaminated water. Fuel shortages hamper drainage efforts, leaving families waiting days for plastic sheeting or blankets.
“Catastrophic doesn’t begin to describe it,” said UNRWA’s Adnan Abu Hasna. “Our capacity is dwarfed by the need.”
International Outcry Over “Man-Made Disaster”
Rights groups blame Israel’s blockade and bombing for Gaza’s ruined infrastructure. “The world must hold perpetrators accountable,” said Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir. Egypt permitted limited aid via Rafah crossing, but restrictions persist. The U.S. and EU pledged funds, yet critics argue money alone won’t restore Gaza’s collapsed services.
Winter Looms: More Rain, More Suffering Ahead
With heavier storms forecast, displaced families face hypothermia and disease. “Deaths from exposure are preventable,” said Dr. Majdi Dhair, a Gaza physician. “The world can’t look away.”
As nights grow colder, Palestinians pray for respite—from the rain and the war.
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