Winter rains bring new hardship for displaced gazans

NN ONLINE:

Families across Gaza spent Tuesday bailing muddy water from their tents as winter storms compounded the misery that has persisted two years into the war.

Heavy rain flooded makeshift encampments where more than 2 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, leaving many standing ankle-deep in water and expressing anger toward both Hamas and Israel despite the ceasefire.

“All the tents collapsed,” said Assmaa Fayad of central Gaza, describing how her temporary shelter was destroyed in the downpour. “Where is Hamas? Who is seeing how our children are drowning?” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem blamed conditions on the Israeli blockade, saying on Telegram that global relief efforts “cannot succeed under siege.”

Aid groups warn that the winter season will worsen humanitarian conditions already strained by shortages and the destruction of infrastructure. Most displaced people are living in tents or improvised shelters built over rubble, without sewage systems; latrines — often pits dug near tents — overflow when it rains. In Deir al-Balah, among the hardest-hit areas, Reham al-Hilu said her shelter of wood and metal collapsed overnight, injuring her. “The mattresses are flooded. Everything is soaked — the clothes, everything — and my children are soaked too,” she said.

The U.N. humanitarian office reported last week that at least 13,000 tents had been damaged by recent storms, wiping out what little belongings many families had left. Aid groups had begun winter preparations in October after the ceasefire, transporting materials such as winter tents into Gaza, but distribution has been slowed by Israeli restrictions on the entry of shelter supplies, the U.N. said. Israel’s COGAT agency said it is working to increase deliveries but did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Despite the constraints, aid organizations distributed more than 3,600 tents, 129,000 tarpaulins and 87,000 blankets earlier this month, according to the U.N. Roads in Deir al-Balah turned into shallow streams, forcing residents to wade through icy water. Some tried to mop up the flooding with pieces of cloth.

Although major fighting has paused, Israel continues limited strikes, saying Hamas is violating the ceasefire — accusations the group denies. Meanwhile, most displaced Palestinians remain packed into areas of Gaza not under Israeli control.