As winter approaches in the Gaza Strip, nearly one million displaced Palestinians face severe risks from potential flooding, according to a report published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. The joint assessment highlights the compounding crises of mass displacement, destroyed infrastructure, and lack of clean water ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
The report states that the scale of death, destruction, and displacement since October 2023 has "repeatedly overwhelmed local and international responders" who are trying to address the immense needs of the population across the besieged enclave.
Displacement Sites at High Risk of Flooding
A joint assessment conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Site Management Cluster, and the Shelter Cluster revealed that 56 percent of Gaza's displacement sites—specifically 989 out of 1,764 sites—are located in medium- or high-risk flood areas. These vulnerable locations host an estimated 956,389 people, representing approximately 60 percent of the total displaced population currently living in Gaza.
The report warns that 451 of these sites are situated in high-risk zones. These specific locations hold more than 400,000 displaced people who may require urgent relocation before the winter weather worsens. Furthermore, the assessment found that 80 percent of all the exposed displacement sites are makeshift setups, which offer minimal protection against harsh weather. During the previous winter, storms damaged more than 42,000 tents across Gaza, according to the IOM and its partners.
Overwhelming Humanitarian Crisis
The threat of winter flooding comes amid an already devastating humanitarian situation. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that, as of early June 2026, more than 74,000 Palestinians had been killed and over 175,000 others had been injured since October 2023. About two million people remain displaced across the Gaza Strip, with many living in temporary shelters that lack access to basic necessities.
The report notes that 97 percent of the water in Gaza was deemed unfit for human consumption between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, approximately 80 percent of the enclave's energy infrastructure had been destroyed by 2025, leaving displaced families with virtually no access to electricity or heating as temperatures drop.
Pre-existing Poverty and Vulnerability
The current crisis has severely worsened the socioeconomic conditions of the population. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) in June 2026, approximately 64 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip was already living below the poverty line before the escalation of the conflict began in late 2023.
With local and international humanitarian responders repeatedly overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, the upcoming winter season threatens to severely exacerbate the suffering of displaced families, particularly those living in makeshift shelters in flood-prone areas.
