Hundreds of tents housing displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were flooded today for the second day in a row after heavy overnight rain.
The tents were flooded after rainfall that fell from early morning until evening, worsening the conditions of families already displaced by Israel's two-year genocide, according to an AA correspondent.
The Gaza Civil Defense said it evacuated dozens of tents in Rafah, in the south, after they were completely flooded. Agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal warned on Wednesday that more than 250,000 families in displacement camps across the enclave were vulnerable to the cold weather and rainwater in their tents.
The agency warned that humanitarian conditions could deteriorate further if the storm system continues, especially without temporary shelter available for displaced families.
On Tuesday, the Gaza Government Media Office warned that a polar low-pressure system would affect the enclave starting Wednesday and lasting until Friday evening, threatening hundreds of thousands of displaced families.
Since Wednesday, thousands of tents housing survivors of Israel's war have turned into pools of water, soaking bedding, clothing and food supplies, and leaving hundreds of Palestinian families exposed to the cold without warmth or shelter.
According to the Media Office, Gaza needs 300,000 tents and prefabricated housing units to meet the most basic housing needs of Palestinians after Israel destroyed infrastructure during the two years of war.
The UN estimates the cost of rebuilding Gaza at around $70 billion as a result of the Israeli war, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000. The offensive was halted under a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.
