Gaza faces humanitarian crisis as floods displace thousands

Heavy rainfall in Gaza has led to significant flooding, impacting displaced families in Khan Yunis and Gaza City, according to reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The flooding has damaged tents and personal belongings, prompting humanitarian partners to conduct field assessments to gauge the extent of the damage and mobilize relief efforts.

Currently, approximately 1.6 million people in Gaza are living in makeshift shelters, with preparations for the rainy season hampered by ongoing challenges in delivering adequate supplies to the region. OCHA has identified around 100 flood-prone areas housing over 450,000 individuals, with local groups taking steps to mitigate the impact of potential flooding, such as installing sandbags at 20 sites. However, a concerning 90% of the assessed areas lack effective contingency plans for severe flooding that could render these sites uninhabitable.

In Gaza City, recent evacuation orders from Israeli authorities have displaced dozens of families in the eastern neighborhoods of Zetun, Turkoman, and Al Jadida, covering an area of about two square kilometers. Meanwhile, in the North Gaza governorate, Kamal Adwan Hospital has faced ongoing attacks over the past 48 hours, resulting in 14 additional injuries, including among medical staff, further straining the already limited healthcare resources in the area.