Gaza Civil Defense: Heavy Rainfall Triggers New Humanitarian Disaster Amid Infrastructure Collapse

Gaza’s Civil Defense has warned that the Strip is facing a “new humanitarian catastrophe” after heavy rainfall swept through areas already devastated by months of Israeli bombardment, further exposing the collapse of essential infrastructure.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, said in an interview with Al-Qahera News that the situation on the ground has deteriorated dramatically in recent days. “The rain revealed a level of destruction far worse than anyone imagined,” he said, describing entire neighborhoods where water has flooded homes, tents, and streets, leaving families without shelter or basic protection.

Basal reported that thousands of homes and temporary tents have been damaged or washed out, while accumulated rainwater has inundated private property. The breakdown of sewage networks has created severe public health risks, with rising cases of respiratory illnesses and infections, particularly among children and elderly residents.

He noted that Civil Defense teams are operating with almost no capacity to respond, as drainage systems, equipment and vital infrastructure have been destroyed during the Israeli offensive. “We lack the basic tools to drain water or assist people. The infrastructure simply no longer exists,” he said.

Although the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Reconstruction continues to provide support, Basal said the scale of destruction is overwhelming. He urged the international community to step in urgently by supplying suitable shelter tents and establishing humanitarian support centers that can accommodate displaced families through the winter months.

Basal also highlighted the latest humanitarian convoy dispatched by Egypt, carrying around 9,200 tonnes of relief supplies through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. The shipment includes more than 5,500 tonnes of food baskets and flour, in addition to medical supplies, relief materials and fuel.

He stressed that Egyptian teams are working around the clock to deliver aid to affected communities across the Strip, from north to south, but warned that the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as living conditions deteriorate and essential services remain largely non-existent.