Displaced families spent a sleepless night in the Gaza Strip as heavy rain flooded their fragile tents, soaking mattresses and belongings, and turning camp pathways into pools of muddy water. The rain marks the start of another difficult winter for the more than 1.6 million Palestinians living in tents or other makeshift shelters in the territory, where nearly the entire population has lost its homes during Israel’s campaign triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks. Majed Al-Omari, who lost a limb during the war, struggled to make his way between tents on crutches after the rains tore down the wooden frame and plastic sheeting of his shelter. “We will have to sleep in the street tonight, or find somewhere else to stay,” he told The Associated Press. The UN humanitarian office has said 294,250 families need shelter assistance for the rainy season, but available supplies are enough to provide only partial assistance to 18% of those in need. It said a lack of funds, slow procurement procedures and delayed approvals by the Israeli authorities mean additional supplies may not reach Palestinians until more than halfway through winter.
