Gaza Herald — Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed and six others injured Sunday evening when a sand embankment collapsed onto tents sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, amid heavy rainfall and strong winds.
A Gaza Herald correspondent reported that rescue teams recovered five bodies and pulled six injured Palestinians from the collapsed sand and debris. Some of the injured were in critical condition.
The victims belonged to two families sheltering at a displacement camp in southern Deir al-Balah.
Gaza’s Civil Defense confirmed the five deaths and said rescue teams were continuing to search for people reported missing following the collapse.
Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Collapse
The tragedy occurred as a powerful weather system battered the Gaza Strip for a second consecutive day, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds that flooded displacement camps and damaged makeshift shelters.
The collapse highlights the dangers facing displaced families living near unstable slopes and sand embankments, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Across Gaza, thousands of families remain in fragile tents and temporary shelters that provide little protection against severe winter weather.
The latest storm has worsened conditions for Palestinians already struggling with displacement, damaged infrastructure, and shortages of essential supplies.
Around 70,000 Tents Flooded Across Gaza
According to Gaza’s Civil Defense, approximately 70,000 displacement tents were flooded during the storm.
Heavy rainfall inundated camps and shelters across several governorates, particularly in low-lying and coastal areas.
Hundreds of families were forced to confront further displacement after floodwaters swept through their shelters, soaking mattresses, blankets, clothing, and other essential belongings.
The flooding has left many displaced Palestinians exposed to cold and rain, with limited access to safe alternative accommodation.
Calls for Urgent Shelter and Emergency Supplies
The deadly collapse has intensified appeals for immediate humanitarian intervention to provide safe temporary housing, winter supplies, and emergency assistance to displaced families.
Gaza’s emergency response capacity remains severely constrained by widespread damage to infrastructure and shortages of essential equipment.
Continuing Israeli restrictions on the entry of shelter and repair materials have further complicated efforts to replace damaged tents and strengthen temporary housing.
With winter weather threatening further flooding and structural collapses, humanitarian organizations and emergency responders are calling for urgent measures to protect families living in vulnerable displacement sites.
The deaths in Deir al-Balah underscore the dangers facing displaced Palestinians as heavy rains strike camps already weakened by inadequate shelter, damaged infrastructure, and limited emergency resources.
