The key facts

  • Gaza's Civil Defense warned of the danger of heavy rain and strong winds on Friday for those living in tents and damaged homes
  • According to UN data (OCHA, October 15), about 950,000 displaced people are in areas of moderate or high flood risk, of whom more than 400,000 face a high risk
  • About 44,000 people are housed in more than 2,300 structurally unsafe buildings; 294,250 families need shelter assistance

Warning ahead of severe weather

Gaza's Civil Defense warned on Thursday that the heavy rains and wind expected on Friday could pose a danger to displaced Palestinians living in tents and temporary shelters, as well as to families staying in damaged buildings at risk of collapse. In its statement, the directorate urged residents to take precautionary measures: securely fasten plastic sheeting and tent pegs, build earthen barriers around tents, dig channels to drain rainwater, and keep belongings raised above the ground. The agency also cautioned against living in structurally damaged buildings or pitching tents next to them, and called on people to move to safer locations, Anadolu reports.

Scale of vulnerability according to the UN

The warning came against the backdrop of data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which on October 15 estimated the number of displaced Palestinians in areas of moderate or high flood risk at roughly 950,000 people; more than 400,000 of them face a high risk. According to the agency, about 44,000 people are sheltering in more than 2,300 structurally unsafe buildings, and 294,250 families need assistance with shelter ahead of the rainy season. It is noted that displaced people face the risk of tents being flooded by rainwater or destroyed by wind, while low-lying areas are vulnerable to flash floods amid damaged drainage systems and a shortage of emergency response equipment.

Context of the shelter crisis

According to figures published by the Gaza government's media office in August 2026, more than 2.15 million displaced Palestinians are in the enclave, including about 867,000 in deteriorating tents and more than a million in shelter centers. The Civil Defense appealed to humanitarian and community organizations to urgently provide safe shelters for displaced families. Anadolu notes that Israeli restrictions on the entry of shelter materials and equipment for repairing damaged infrastructure remain in place, despite the ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10, 2025.