Heavy rains struck Gaza on March 16, 2024, leading to severe flooding in encampments that house displaced Palestinians. The relentless downpour transformed roads into rivers, inundating makeshift shelters and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation for the region’s two million residents. Families huddled in tents found their belongings soaked as water pooled around their sleeping areas, raising urgent concerns about health and safety.
In Gaza City, Sana Abu Harad, 38, expressed her despair as she pointed to her shivering child and the drenched bedding inside her tent. “Everything is underwater,” she told NBC News. “Why must this little child sleep in floodwater? I struggled so much just to get this tent, and now nothing protects us. Where will I live with my children now?”
The crisis has escalated significantly due to the collapse of water and sewage systems, largely a result of two years of Israeli strikes that destroyed critical infrastructure. Currently, an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with over 1.5 million people reported to “urgently require emergency shelter assistance,” according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Environmental and Health Risks Heighten
Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense agency, characterized the situation as a “true catastrophe.” He noted that the mixing of rainwater with sewage has resulted in an environmental disaster that threatens public health. “There is no sewage system, no rainwater drainage system, and no water reservoirs; all of them have been destroyed by Israel, along with all the infrastructure,” he stated.
The United Nations has reported that Israel has rejected over 100 requests for the entry of essential relief materials, including blankets, winter clothing, and tools necessary for maintaining sanitation services. These restrictions are significantly hampering humanitarian efforts in the region, according to U.N. Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq.
In response to the situation, COGAT, the Israeli body responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza, asserted that “hundreds of trucks carrying food, water, fuel, gas, medicines, medical equipment, tents, and shelter supplies enter the Gaza Strip every day.” Nonetheless, the persistent denial of additional aid is raising alarms among humanitarian organizations.
Political Tensions Intensify Amid Crisis
As humanitarian issues mount, political tensions have also escalated within Israel. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on a U.S. proposal for a United Nations mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza, a move that has faced opposition from Russia, China, and several Arab nations.
The U.S.-backed resolution emphasizes that the ongoing peace process “offers a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” a statement that has provoked backlash from far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Cabinet. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have demanded that Netanyahu disavow any reference to Palestinian statehood, with Ben-Gvir calling for a clear statement that Israel “will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in any form.”
Netanyahu, reliant on support from ultranationalists to maintain his majority, affirmed at a government meeting that Israel’s opposition to a “Palestinian state in any territory has not changed.” “I don’t need reinforcements and tweets and lectures from anyone,” he added.
The deployment of an international security force within Gaza has emerged as a significant hurdle in advancing negotiations related to a potential ceasefire, Hamas’ disarmament, and the future governance of the enclave, as well as the fate of three Israeli hostages still unaccounted for in Gaza.
As heavy rains continue to batter the region, many families remain in precarious situations. Ma’in Albuhteiti, 50, who sleeps in a tent with seven of his children, recounted being awakened at 3 a.m. by the floodwaters. “Look at the bedding, the furniture, and the state of things,” he lamented. “We were completely flooded, we couldn’t move.” He added, “If there were proper shelter for us, we would go; we cannot manage. The situation is extremely tragic, and all the rain is pouring on us.”
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for effective intervention and support as families struggle to cope with the dual challenges of severe weather and political instability.
