Heavy rain floods thousands of tents in Gaza, aid shortages hamper response

Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians crammed into encampments across the Gaza Strip, washing away shelters and soaking blankets and mattresses, local authorities said on Saturday.

The Hamas-run Gaza government ⁠media office said at least 70,000 tents had been flooded in the past 12 hours, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people and causing injuries, although no fatalities had been reported.

The territory’s civil defence service said it had received 1,500 distress calls from displaced residents. Three abandoned houses collapsed without causing injuries, it added.

At a tent encampment in Gaza City, some people tried to repair their tents, ⁠while others used sand to reinforce them and prevent water from ​entering. ⁠Some were busy getting their children out of flooded tents.

Olfat Magdoub, a Gaza resident, tried in vain to sweep water away from her tent.

“This is the first day of rain, and of course ⁠we are already flooded. What will happen if it rains again the next day? This is only the first ​day and ⁠we’re already overwhelmed,” said the woman.

“Two weeks ago ‌when it rained, I swear to God, I spent four days sleeping on blankets spread on the floor…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business