Winter Fury in Gaza: Heavy Rains and Floods Claim Lives in War-Torn Strip
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Khalid Al Mansoor
- . December 13, 2025
- . Update: December 13, 2025 5:59 pm
In Gaza, heavy rains have caused flash floods that have killed people and made the pain of civilians who have already been in a war for months even worse. It’s very cold, the water is rising, and there are no basic supplies for the thousands of families who have to leave their homes and now fight in the streets that have turned into rivers and the shelters that have fallen. For many people who live there, the storm has become another danger in an area that was already weak.
First responders say that the flooding has been worse in areas with low elevation and in camps that are overcrowded, where the drainage systems are broken or not present at all.
Displaced Families Suffer the Most
The floods have been very bad for families taking cover in tents, schools, and buildings that are only partly intact. Fights have already damaged homes, and rainwater has gotten into the living areas, ruining food, clothes, and bedding. Children and elderly neighbours are some of the most at-risk people who are exposed to cold and wet conditions that make them more likely to get sick.
Extreme weather can be dangerous when war weakens the infrastructure. This has been shown by the several deaths from shelters collapsing, drowning, and hypothermia.
Infrastructure that is under a lot of stress and aid that is hard to get to
Gaza’s infrastructure was already weak, and now it is having trouble dealing with all the rain. Sewage systems have spilt, making the streets dirty and creating big health risks. Pumping operations have been hindered by power outages, and damaged roads have made it hard for rescue teams to get to neighbourhoods that are flooded.
Humanitarian groups say that more rain could make things worse, especially if there isn’t any clean water or a way to heat up water. When help is needed most, aid workers say that entry issues and lack of supplies are slowing down the work to help.
Urgent Humanitarian Aid Calls
International groups and local governments are asking for instant help to protect people who are weak from getting hurt even more. People are asking for blankets, winter clothes, fuel, and medical supplies to stop diseases from spreading, as well as waterproof materials for shelters.
As winter weather goes on, the people of Gaza have to deal with the harsh effects of both war and a natural disaster at the same time. For families who have already been displaced and are tired, the floods are a harsh warning that they must now seek safety from violence as well as shelter from the weather in order to survive.
