Gaza floods force choice between clean water and sewage removal

Heavy rainstorms across Gaza on the weekend of November 7 and 8 have overwhelmed damaged sewage systems and temporary shelters, forcing municipal officials to make difficult choices regarding resources. Municipal engineer Imad Abdel Jawad explained that diesel supplies are limited, stating, “The diesel we use for these pumps comes from the allocation for the wells that are supposed to pump water,” noting that current supplies are already insufficient for the population.

In Al Maghazi, residents faced dire conditions as water levels in some tents rose over a foot deep. Hanan Saied, a 46-year-old mother of seven, described the destruction of her living space in a shelter constructed with mud walls and plastic sheeting. “The house flooded, and stones and mud fell on us,” she said. “The bedding was soaked, and the children’s clothes were soaked.” Saied spent the night protecting her daughter, Sara, who suffers from asthma, while her eldest son attempted to repair their damaged home.

Data from Gaza’s Government Media Office indicates that at least 70,000 tents housing displaced Palestinians flooded within a 12-hour period. On 8 November, the Israel account on X, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “Contrary to popular belief, Israel does not control the weather,” although the post did not specifically reference the flooding in Gaza. This weather event follows significant destruction; an April assessment by the United Nations, European Union, and World Bank identified that over 371,888 housing units were damaged or destroyed, leaving approximately 1.9 million people displaced.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that by 8 November, 1.4 million people—65 percent of the population—were residing in shelters or tents, with humanitarian partners receiving pleas from over 26,000 households. In Al Maghazi, Jawad noted that rainwater accumulates in low-lying displacement sites that lack proper drainage. While his teams have attempted to pump water away, the situation is exacerbated by damaged sewage manhole covers, which allow rainwater to flood the sewage network.

“The sewage networks become unable to accommodate the quantities of sewage in addition to the rainwater that leaks into the manholes because the covers are missing,” Jawad explained. Because replacement parts are unavailable and the municipality faces financial constraints, maintaining water wells takes precedence over sewage infrastructure. “I consider spending money on maintaining wells or maintaining generators to operate water wells a higher priority than allocating some of that money to maintaining sewage manhole covers,” he added.

The OCHA reported on November 5 that Israeli authorities maintain strict restrictions on the import of spare parts, lubricants, engine oil, and new generators, which has hindered efforts to manage floodwater and sewage. The agency noted that restoring stable power would require permission to import solar panels and reconnect the electricity grid. The Israel Defense Forces did not provide a response when asked about restrictions on equipment necessary for flood prevention and infrastructure repair.

Health services are also struggling as the rainy season begins. Dr Asma Saleh, a general practitioner at the UNRWA clinic in Al Maghazi, reported a rise in gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. The facility treats approximately 120 children every day, including roughly 22 with influenza-like symptoms and 13 with gastroenteritis. “The inhumane living conditions, collapse of infrastructure, the flowing streets contaminated with sewage, and the shortage of medical supplies are all factors that profoundly impact the health care system in Gaza,” she stated.

For families like that of Hanan Saied, the primary worry is the prospect of further storms. Without electricity or a nebuliser to treat her daughter’s asthma, Saied remains uncertain about their future. “My older son spent hours repairing our worn shelter using simple tools, but I don’t know what to do during upcoming storms,” she said.