Gaza rains and flooding worsen conditions for displaced families, Action Against Hunger warns
Heavy rains in the Gaza Strip are worsening conditions for thousands of displaced families, according to a statement issued by Action Against Hunger on 12 November 2026. The organisation reports 17,400 damaged shelters and 6,000 destroyed, with more than 3,900 households left without shelter.
Missing or destroyed drainage systems and tents erected directly on sand contribute to flooding, leaving shelters unusable and damaging families’ belongings. The organisation also reports deaths and injuries, including among children, in building collapses near Khan Yunis, and says at least three children died when a sand embankment collapsed near a tent.
Jean Raphael Poitou, Action Against Hunger’s head of advocacy for the Middle East, says families are facing the rains with more deteriorated shelters and fewer resources than in previous years. According to Poitou, despite the ceasefire, people continue to move towards coastal areas vulnerable to flooding, while there has been no significant improvement in aid distribution or the availability of materials to repair shelters.
The organisation’s staff report that families have lost food supplies stored in flooded tents, amid shortages of essential goods and bread. According to the statement, shortages of fuel and engine oil hamper the operation of water pumps, waste collection vehicles and heavy machinery needed to clear rubble. Restrictions on the entry of materials such as metal and cement also limit families’ ability to reinforce or replace their shelters.
Action Against Hunger warns of health risks from prolonged exposure to cold and damp conditions, particularly for infants and young children already affected by malnutrition. The organisation says overcrowding and inadequate sanitation also increase the risk of infections.
In response, the organisation says it is distributing blankets and essential supplies through its mother-and-child-friendly spaces and training mothers to recognise signs of hypothermia and other cold-related illnesses. Its work also includes building sand barriers around tents and removing rubble and waste that block drainage systems.