Heavy rain floods tents housing thousands of displaced families in Gaza

Play Brightcove video Words by Lauren Clarke, Content Editor, video report by ITV News Correspondent Rachel Townsend The reality of winter has begun in Gaza. This weekend, heavy rains and flooding have left thousands of displaced families without shelter. The tents they now call home are filled with water; what few possessions they have are swimming in a mixture of rainwater and often sewage. Footage from camps in Gaza City, Deir-el-Balah and Khan Younis shows families repurposing pots and pans as buckets while children shiver on sodden mattresses.

This weekend's rain alone saw 70,000 tents flooded in less than 12 hours, the Hamas-run government in Gaza said. A Palestinian child sits beside a pool of rainwater at a camp for displaced people in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Credit: AP Around 1,500 distress calls were made to the Civil Defence agency, which later declared a state of extreme emergency. Amani Al Naouq, the International Committee of the Red Cross's spokesperson in Gaza, told ITV News the situation on the ground had been 'painful and difficult' to see.

Speaking to us from inside Gaza, she said: "We saw in the past two days many, many families in entire camps, spending night and day struggling to keep their tents and properties protected from the flooding. "It was really so painful and difficult to see families, women and fathers trying to save what they can save, carrying their children in order not to stay wet and then not to get, of course, sick later on. Displaced Palestinians repair tents damaged by heavy rain in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip Credit: AP "We see these families exhausted and feeling helpless, not able to help themselves and at the same time not able to help their loved ones - they have no choice."

According to the UN, more than 90% of Gaza's population have been displaced from their homes as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas. In real terms, that is more than 1.2 million people, including more than half a million children, living in flimsy canvas tents and improvised shelters. But the reality is, they have no other option. Subscribe for free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

Ms Al Naouq added: "They choose between staying in a tent, in a worn out tent that can be actually torn apart, or swept away with the harsh winter conditions and the heavy winds, or to go to a damaged building and stay there and then be actually exposed to collapse of these building." In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli military agency which coordinated aid into Gaza, COGAT, said it continues to monitor the situation on the ground and coordinate a response 'based on the needs of the population'.

It added COGAT will not allow the entry of any equipment into Gaza which could be used by Hamas. More war or no war: Do midterms make fresh strikes on Iran more or less likely? 'Nobody has taken responsibility': Israelis still seeking answers on October 7 Aid agencies warn that without an effective ceasefire, essential items such as tarpaulins, blankets, fuel and construction materials needed to repair tents will simply not reach those in need.

This year will be the fourth winter many families in Gaza are living in tents or makeshift shelters. All of them will hope it will be their last but, as they brace for the colder weather yet to come, that hope may be hard to come by. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...