# Winter Storms Devastate Displaced Families in Gaza Amid Shelter Material Blockades Heavy rainfall floods thousands of makeshift tents, leaving displaced families exposed to freezing conditions. - **Source:** [Al Jazeera English – All News](https://www.aljazeera.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/50cb56b5-3f39-4e5d-a3fd-450abda6d5f2 ## Severe Storms Impact Camps The first winter storm of the season has caused widespread flooding across Gaza, affecting thousands of displaced families. Civil defence crews received 1,500 distress calls within ten hours as water levels rose by 30 to 40 centimeters. Many families were forced out of flooded shelters into the cold and unknown. ## Infrastructure and Structural Damage Strong winds and heavy rain caused partial building collapses in Nuseirat and northern Gaza, resulting in injuries. Emergency committees report that over one million displaced people are now facing extreme winter dangers. Existing structures, already weakened by the ongoing conflict since October 2023, are failing to withstand the harsh weather conditions. ## Vulnerable Populations at Risk Civil defence officials warn that premature babies, the elderly, and the sick face immediate life-threatening risks. With mattresses and blankets soaked, children are wading through mud and sewage in camps like Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah. Over 28,000 widows are struggling to protect their children alone during this winter crisis. ## Coastal Displacement Vulnerability In the coastal area of al-Mawasi, where over 900,000 people are sheltering, thousands of tents have been inundated. Officials estimate that 125,000 families living along the coastline are at particular risk of having their temporary shelters swept away by the sea. The territory urgently requires 200,000 new tents for protection. ## Blocked Humanitarian Aid Supplies Humanitarian groups report that shelter materials, including tent poles and construction supplies, are largely barred from entry. Israeli authorities classify these items as dual-use, preventing their distribution. Consequently, 50,000 tents remain waiting on the Egyptian side of the border, while 8,600 emergency shelter kits are currently being turned away at crossings. ## Inadequate Aid Delivery Logistics Daily aid truck entries are significantly lower than required levels, with only 40 of approximately 200 daily trucks carrying humanitarian aid. This falls far short of the 600 trucks agreed upon under humanitarian protocols. Humanitarian workers are forced to repurpose salvaged materials to construct makeshift shelters as supplies remain strictly restricted. ## Systemic Shelter Supply Shortages Data indicates that current humanitarian supply pipelines cover barely 17 percent of identified winter needs for Gaza's population. With no fuel and limited protection, families are enduring their fourth winter in these conditions. International calls for immediate, predictable, and large-scale access to shelter materials have so far remained largely unheeded. ## Emergency Response Limitations Civil defence teams lack basic resources like tarpaulins, limiting their capacity to save lives beyond immediate rescue operations. Officials emphasize that the disaster requires proactive intervention rather than reactive measures. As storms continue to batter the territory, the lack of sustained humanitarian access remains the primary obstacle to protecting vulnerable families. ## Sources covering this story - [Middle East Eye — Heavy Rains Flood Gaza Displacement Camps Amid Shelter Material Blockade](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/rains-flood-gaza-displacement-camps-israeli-authorities-block-entry) - [Al Jazeera English – All News — Winter Storm Floods Thousands of Displaced Families' Tents in Gaza](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/7/rains-flood-thousands-of-tents-in-gaza?traffic_source=rss) - [CNA – Latest — Heavy Rains Leave Tens of Thousands Homeless in Gaza](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/gaza-heavy-rain-without-shelter-humanitarian-aid-6533131) - [Al-Monitor — Heavy Rains Leave Tens of Thousands Homeless in Gaza](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/11/heavy-rains-leave-tens-thousands-without-shelter-gaza-local-authorities) - [Al-Monitor — Heavy Rains Devastate Gaza Displacement Camps Amid Aid Shortages](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/11/heavy-rain-floods-tents-housing-gaza-displaced-people-aid-shortages-hamper) - [Público — Torrential Rains Devastate Gaza Displacement Camps](https://www.publico.pt/2026/11/07/mundo/noticia/gaza-chuvas-torrenciais-estao-inundar-tendas-populacao-deslocada-2194157) - [Middle East Eye — Gaza Families Face Severe Hardship as Winter Storms Flood Shelters](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/we-do-not-want-die-cold-gaza-families-struggle-rain-floods-shelters) - [BBC News – Top Stories — Severe Flooding Displaces Thousands in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx240e5py64jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [Africanews — Severe Flooding Displaces Thousands in War-Torn Gaza](http://www.africanews.com/2026/11/07/heavy-rains-leave-tens-of-thousands-without-shelter-in-gaza/) - [Al Jazeera English – All News — Winter Storms Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza](https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/11/7/jerusalem-daily-heavy-rains-flood-gaza?traffic_source=rss) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._