DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP – Heavy rains and plunging temperatures battered Gaza Thursday, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians in tent camps exposed and struggling to cope, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis despite two months of a ceasefire. Flooded tents, muddy pathways, and overflowing sewage left displaced families scrambling to stay dry and warm. Children waded through waterlogged areas while adults tried to salvage belongings from the relentless downpour.
Residents described leaking tents, soaked mattresses, and unsafe conditions affecting the elderly, sick, and children alike. Aid groups warned that insufficient shelter and medical support are reaching the territory, with recent figures suggesting that daily aid shipments have fallen short of truce commitments. Officials and aid organizations stressed that thousands more tents, warm clothing, and water pumps are urgently needed to prevent further suffering. Hamas and local NGOs called for immediate reconstruction efforts, rehabilitation of hospitals, and reopening key border crossings, while noting that delays threaten the stability of the ceasefire and the well-being of Gaza’s nearly 2 million residents.
