Last updated: November 9, 2026. Gaza's first winter storm flooded about 70,000 tents sheltering displaced families on November 7, 2026. Health officials warn the flooding raises the risk of disease outbreaks as winter begins. This guide is for information only — it is not medical advice. Always follow your doctor's guidance. Medical disclaimer: this article does not replace professional medical advice; seek a doctor promptly for fever, persistent cough, diarrhoea or breathing difficulty, especially in children, babies and older adults.

Gaza Flooding: 70,000 Tents Flooded, Disease Risk Rises

Written by Fatima Nursing Care

Heavy rain and strong winds from Gaza's first winter storm flooded about 70,000 tents sheltering displaced families within the first 12 hours, leaving tens of thousands of people without dry shelter as winter begins. The Palestinian Health Minister has warned that the flooding sharply raises the risk of disease outbreaks among hundreds of thousands of displaced people — especially children, babies, older adults and patients with chronic conditions.

What happened in the Gaza floods?

A deep low-pressure system with a cold air mass reached the Gaza Strip on Friday, November 6, 2026, bringing heavy rain, falling temperatures and strong winds. By Saturday, November 7, the Government Media Office in Gaza said around 70,000 tents sheltering displaced people had been flooded within 12 hours of the storm's impact, with initial direct losses estimated at about $3 million. Dozens of cracked walls and roofs collapsed, and medical sources said five people were injured when two damaged walls fell.

Gaza City received 60 millimetres of rain in 12 hours — about 15% of its annual rainfall, according to Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna. Families waded through knee-deep, muddy water inside their tents, with mattresses, blankets, clothes and food supplies soaked. Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said floodwaters submerged dozens of displacement camps, shelters and residential areas, and warned that infants, premature babies, older people, sick people and people with disabilities suffer most in the cold and damp.

The storm exposed a shelter crisis that predates it. The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said 1.98 million people — about 94% of Gaza's population — need shelter and other essential supplies. In October, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that 950,000 Palestinians were living in displacement sites exposed to moderate or high flood risks, including more than 400,000 in areas facing high risk. Emergency officials say Gaza needs about 200,000 tents, along with mobile homes, heating supplies and waterproofing materials, to give displaced families even basic protection.

Why flooding raises the risk of disease

Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan issued an urgent appeal on November 7, warning that the flooding, combined with inadequate shelter and deteriorating health and sanitation conditions, is exposing hundreds of thousands of displaced people to increasing health risks — just as winter is beginning. His warning, reported by the WAFA news agency, focused on three dangers:

• Respiratory infections: continued exposure to cold and damp inside damaged tents, with overcrowding and poor ventilation, raises the risk of influenza and pneumonia — especially for children, babies, older people and patients with pre-existing conditions.
• Contaminated water and food: accumulated waste, untreated wastewater and the absence of sanitation and pest control favour rodents and insects and increase the risk of water and food contamination.
• A health system with little spare capacity: hospitals and health centres are damaged, medicines, medical supplies, fuel and staff are short, and the interruption of treatments worsens the situation for people with chronic illnesses or those needing specialist care.

A coalition of Palestinian civil society organisations warned in a statement that the flooding threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents, pointing to the risk of spreading diseases and epidemics. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said Gaza is facing its fourth winter in extreme conditions and again demanded that the entry of an uninterrupted flow of essential humanitarian aid be allowed.

Hospitals and health services under strain

The World Health Organization said on September 24, 2026 that only 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were functioning even partially, and none was fully functioning. Essential medicines, diagnostics, equipment and fuel remain in critically short supply, and about 1.7 million people remain displaced. UNRWA remains one of the main public health providers in Gaza, with more than 1,000 staff delivering about 10,000 health consultations every day — but the agency says it is being forced to cut services because it cannot cover a $70 million shortfall, and mass layoffs in Gaza are under way.

Shortages of engine oil, lubricants, spare parts and maintenance supplies for generators, engines and vehicles also threaten service provision. Health services at risk include life-support systems such as adult and neonatal ventilators, diagnostic and clinical services, cold-chain capacity and ambulances. Since October 2023, about 12,400 patients have been medically evacuated from Gaza, according to the WHO.

Food and medicine: aid entry slows

Aid deliveries were already falling before the storm. Between October 26 and November 1, 2026, 466 UN and partner trucks carrying humanitarian supplies were manifested for entry into Gaza, and 397 were offloaded at Kerem Shalom — a 28% decrease in manifested trucks from the previous week. On November 1, Israel notified UN agencies that all shipments from Egypt would be suspended. The Food Security Sector warns that if the suspension persists, the production and distribution of cooked meals could fall from 600,000 to 330,000 a day, and bread production from 280 to 259 metric tons.

The resumption of commercial truck entry through Kerem Shalom after a mid-October suspension had brought basic commodity prices back to previous levels, with the private sector bringing 498 truckloads into Gaza between October 26 and November 1. But partners have been reporting declining humanitarian cargo available to ship because of funding constraints. The health minister has called for safe shelters, water- and wind-resistant tents, insulating materials, heating systems, blankets and winter clothing, as well as potable water, hygiene items, waste collection, pest control and urgent repair of sewer and drainage networks.

How families in flooded tents can stay safer

There is no home remedy that replaces medical care or clean water. These practical steps can reduce risk while families wait for help:

• Keep warm and dry: change wet clothes as soon as possible, especially for babies and older people; layer dry blankets and keep sleeping areas raised off wet ground where possible.
• Wash hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet, after touching floodwater, and before preparing or eating food.
• Drink only safe water and keep drinking water covered and away from floodwater.
• Avoid walking through floodwater — it may be mixed with sewage. If contact is unavoidable, wash skin with clean water and soap afterwards and cover any cuts.
• Keep medicines dry in their original packaging, raised off the ground; do not stop chronic medicines without asking a doctor or health worker.
• Watch children and older adults closely — they deteriorate faster and may not say how unwell they feel. Keep a simple record of temperature, fluids and symptoms to share with the health worker.
• Seek care early for fever, cough, diarrhoea or breathing difficulty — do not wait for symptoms to pass.

Health workers and aid agencies are the right source for the latest local advice on safe water, shelter and medical care in each camp. For families in Pakistan, a trained home nurse can take over the watching at home — checking temperature and hydration, keeping the medicine and symptom record, and supporting hygiene measures — with the doctor directing the care plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tents were flooded in Gaza?

About 70,000 tents sheltering displaced people were flooded within the first 12 hours of Gaza's first winter storm on November 7, 2026, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza. Gaza City received 60 millimetres of rain in 12 hours, about 15% of its annual rainfall. Dozens of walls collapsed and five people were injured.

Why does flooding raise the risk of disease in Gaza?

Floodwater mixes with sewage in displacement camps, while cold, damp tents, overcrowding and poor ventilation raise the risk of respiratory infections. Waste, rodents and insects increase the risk of contaminated water and food. The Palestinian Health Minister warned on November 7, 2026 that these conditions raise the risk of influenza, pneumonia and other infectious diseases, especially for children, babies, older people and patients with chronic conditions.

How many hospitals are working in Gaza?

The World Health Organization said on September 24, 2026 that only 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were functioning even partially, and none was fully functioning. Essential medicines, diagnostics, equipment and fuel remain in critically short supply, and about 1.7 million people remain displaced.

What aid is reaching Gaza?

Between October 26 and November 1, 2026, 466 UN and partner trucks carrying humanitarian supplies were manifested for entry into Gaza and 397 were offloaded at Kerem Shalom. On November 1, Israel notified UN agencies that all shipments from Egypt would be suspended. The Food Security Sector warned that cooked-meal production could fall from 600,000 to 330,000 meals a day if the suspension persists.

How can families in flooded tents stay safer?

Keep children and older people warm and dry, change wet clothes promptly, wash hands with soap and clean water, drink only safe water, and avoid walking through floodwater. Watch for fever, cough, diarrhoea or unusual sleepiness and seek medical care early. Keep chronic medicines dry and in their original packaging, and ask a doctor or health worker before stopping any treatment.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The health situation in Gaza is changing rapidly, and the figures in this article are reported as stated by the sources named — the World Health Organization, UNRWA, OCHA and the Palestinian Health Ministry. Always seek the advice of a qualified doctor with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Fever, breathing difficulty or persistent diarrhoea needs prompt medical attention, especially in children, babies and older adults.