Downpours, flooding in Gaza leave tens of thousands without shelter

Across the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians continue to battle rain-induced floods that destroyed tents and shelters.

In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, the tents that families had spent days reinforcing were inundated with rainwater mixed with sewage that poured in after heavy downfalls, leaving many without food, drinking water, or a place to sleep.

Mattresses, clothing and personal belongings were soaked in the first major rainstorm of the season.

People struggled to use shovels to build makeshift earthen barriers or drain the floodwater by hand.

Strong winds that tore through tent coverings compounded the misery.

Gaza's Civil Defense reports over 1,500 emergency calls and says shortages of fuel, equipment and operational vehicles are hampering efforts to respond to the flooding.

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{Downpours, flooding in Gaza leave tens of thousands without shelter}