[[{"content_id":414440,"content_number":0,"portal_id":2,"lang_id":"en","content_title":"Gaza Municipality: Hundreds of displacement tents flooded as overcrowded areas face worsening health and environmental conditions","content_rtitr":"","content_short_title":null,"content_summary":"Gaza Municipality spokesperson Hosni Mhanna said Thursday that hundreds of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been flooded since Monday due to heavy rainfall.","content_summary_fill":1,"content_body":"&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSevere weather has intensified the suffering of thousands of displaced people living in tents and damaged buildings amid widespread destruction of infrastructure caused by Zionist regime&rsquo;s military campaign that began on October 8, 2023, and continued for two years.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMhanna told Anadolu Agency that &ldquo;new weather systems are once again exposing the fragility of infrastructure, particularly stormwater drainage and sewage systems.&rdquo;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe reported that hundreds of displacement tents were flooded during Monday evening&rsquo;s storm and again during a new weather system on Thursday, as runoff carried debris and waste into camps and shelters, leading to a deterioration in health and environmental conditions, especially in densely populated areas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMhanna explained that the tents offer little protection against harsh weather, with water seeping inside and damaging the few belongings families have, while the ground has turned into mud.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe warned that children and the elderly are increasingly vulnerable to cold-related illnesses and respiratory diseases, amid a lack of heating and severe strain on the healthcare system.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAccording to Mhanna, more than 220,000 meters of sewage networks and around 15,000 meters of stormwater drainage systems have been destroyed during the war, reducing operational capacity by over 80 percent.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe added that the current conditions have prevented the system from absorbing recent rainfall, causing water to accumulate in streets and seep into tents and damaged homes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMunicipal crews, working alongside civil defense teams, are attempting to manage the situation but face a severe shortage of equipment and machinery needed for water removal and urgent repairs. Mhanna warned of growing risks of environmental contamination and disease outbreaks if infrastructure conditions continue to deteriorate without immediate intervention.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince December 2025, the Gaza Strip has been hit by several storms that flooded and destroyed tens of thousands of tents and caused already damaged buildings to collapse, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, some due to extreme cold.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nApproximately 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, out of a population of 2.4 million, are living in harsh conditions in worn-out tents lacking basic necessities after their homes were destroyed during the war.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDespite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025, living conditions in Gaza have seen little improvement, as Israel has not fully adhered to its commitments, including halting airstrikes and implementing humanitarian provisions.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAmid a sharp drop in temperatures, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal issued an urgent appeal urging residents to exercise caution, particularly as cold waves intensify.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe called for close monitoring of children and vulnerable families, especially those living in tents, to ensure their safety and protect them from the dangers of extreme cold.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a statement issued Thursday, Civil Defense warned that cold weather could lead to serious health complications and, in some cases, fatalities.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBasal stressed that public safety is a shared responsibility and urged all possible preventive measures during this critical period to reduce risks associated with low temperatures.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith the onset of winter and successive storms affecting Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, the suffering of displaced people has worsened significantly. Tens of thousands of tents have been flooded, leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises that have claimed the lives of children, the elderly, and the sick due to severe cold.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","content_html":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Severe weather has intensified the suffering of thousands of displaced people living in tents and damaged buildings amid widespread destruction of infrastructure caused by Zionist regime&rsquo;s military campaign that began on October 8, 2023, and continued for two years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Mhanna told Anadolu Agency that &ldquo;new weather systems are once again exposing the fragility of infrastructure, particularly stormwater drainage and sewage systems.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">He reported that hundreds of displacement tents were flooded during Monday evening&rsquo;s storm and again during a new weather system on Thursday, as runoff carried debris and waste into camps and shelters, leading to a deterioration in health and environmental conditions, especially in densely populated areas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Mhanna explained that the tents offer little protection against harsh weather, with water seeping inside and damaging the few belongings families have, while the ground has turned into mud.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">He warned that children and the elderly are increasingly vulnerable to cold-related illnesses and respiratory diseases, amid a lack of heating and severe strain on the healthcare system.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">According to Mhanna, more than 220,000 meters of sewage networks and around 15,000 meters of stormwater drainage systems have been destroyed during the war, reducing operational capacity by over 80 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">He added that the current conditions have prevented the system from absorbing recent rainfall, causing water to accumulate in streets and seep into tents and damaged homes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Municipal crews, working alongside civil defense teams, are attempting to manage the situation but face a severe shortage of equipment and machinery needed for water removal and urgent repairs. Mhanna warned of growing risks of environmental contamination and disease outbreaks if infrastructure conditions continue to deteriorate without immediate intervention.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Since December 2025, the Gaza Strip has been hit by several storms that flooded and destroyed tens of thousands of tents and caused already damaged buildings to collapse, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, some due to extreme cold.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Approximately 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, out of a population of 2.4 million, are living in harsh conditions in worn-out tents lacking basic necessities after their homes were destroyed during the war.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025, living conditions in Gaza have seen little improvement, as Israel has not fully adhered to its commitments, including halting airstrikes and implementing humanitarian provisions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Amid a sharp drop in temperatures, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal issued an urgent appeal urging residents to exercise caution, particularly as cold waves intensify.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">He called for close monitoring of children and vulnerable families, especially those living in tents, to ensure their safety and protect them from the dangers of extreme cold.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">In a statement issued Thursday, Civil Defense warned that cold weather could lead to serious health complications and, in some cases, fatalities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Basal stressed that public safety is a shared responsibility and urged all possible preventive measures during this critical period to reduce risks associated with low temperatures.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">With the onset of winter and successive storms affecting Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, the suffering of displaced people has worsened significantly. Tens of thousands of tents have been flooded, leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises that have claimed the lives of children, the elderly, and the sick due to severe cold.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_date_start":"2026-02-27 10:51:31","content_date_event":"2026-02-27 10:51:31","content_date_event_start":null,"content_date_event_end":null,"content_show_title_slider":1,"content_date_last_edit":"2026-02-27 10:52:32","content_date_register":"2026-02-27 10:52:32","content_columns":0,"content_show_img":1,"content_show_details":0,"content_show_related_img":0,"content_show_slider":1,"content_comment":1,"content_score":0,"tag_id":0,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"uid":43,"eid":0,"attach_title":"Gaza Municipality: Hundreds of displacement tents flooded as overcrowded areas face worsening health and environmental conditions","attaches":[{"sizes":{"150":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_150_84.webp","300":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_300_169.webp","400":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_400_225.webp","600":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_600_338.webp","900":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_864_486.jpg","1200":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182_864_486.jpg"},"ext":"jpg","file_media":1,"token":2233046182,"files":{"original":{"url":".\/file\/2\/attach\/202602\/566644_2233046182.jpg","width":864,"height":486,"size":0}}}]}]]