oPt: Misery for Thousands in Gaza as Tents Flood: IOM Warns of Further Hardship as Winter Deepens

Gaza City/Geneva, 8 November 2026 – Commenting on shelter needs and the devastating conditions in displacement sites across Gaza following recent rainfall and flooding, Karl Baker, Head of IOM’s Gaza programme, said from Gaza: “I visited a number of displacement sites around Gaza City today and saw the impact of recent flooding firsthand. Worn-out tents have collapsed. Children are wading through knee-deep, contaminated floodwater. Families have lost what few belongings they had left. IOM has been delivering thousands of tents and tarpaulins over the past few weeks, but available supplies fall far short of the scale of need. Palestinians in Gaza need stronger and longer-lasting shelter options. Timber emergency shelter kits and prefabricated options, including relief housing units and caravans, must be funded and allowed into Gaza. I also saw firsthand the difference that site management support can make. In sites where IOM and its partners are present, teams have been improving drainage by building channels to divert rainwater, and protecting pathways and shelters with sandbags made from repurposed flour bags. Most displaced people do not have access to this support, leaving them particularly exposed to flooding. Investing in site management is a practical and immediate way to reduce risks and improve conditions for displaced families this winter. Humanitarian teams also need access to the equipment and materials required to carry out this work. IOM has deflooding pumps and community toolkits containing practical equipment and supplies to help improve drainage, maintain pathways and protect shelters, as well as tens of thousands of sandbags awaiting entry into Gaza. These supplies are essential to improve drainage, protect shelters and help prevent further flooding in displacement sites. We urgently need funding and in-kind donations of tents, tarpaulins and blankets to meet the needs of displaced families. Member States must also help remove restrictions preventing essential humanitarian supplies from entering Gaza. ” For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.

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