The rainy season has begun to hit Gaza, with residents still living in fragile, flooded tents.

Genangan air dekat tenda ringkih milik pengungsi Palestina di Gaza yang rumahnya hancur lebur akibat serangan Israel. (X @UNRWA)

JAKARTA - Heavy rain for the first time this season caused water to flow rapidly through the fragile tents sheltered by Palestinian refugees in the Muwazi camp in the Gaza Strip.

The refugees' plight worsened as they left the Muwazi camp, where several areas in the Gaza Strip were flooded and many buildings were left in ruins as a result of Israeli military attacks.

The refugees struggled to dig ditches to drain the water to prevent it from flooding their tents. Meanwhile, rainwater continued to drip through the gaps in the tarpaulins and shelters.

The first rain of the season fell periodically, drenching the belongings Muwazi refugees still considered valuable in Gaza. Strong winds also frequently toppled tents and ruined the efforts of refugees, mostly families, to gather food and supplies for the return of winter.

Two weeks ago, Bassil Naggar bought a new tent on the black market for US$712.50, as the scorching summer sun had eroded the lining of his old one. However, even in its current use, rainwater continues to seep into Naggar's new tent.

"I spent the whole day (last Friday) pushing water out of my tent," Naggar said, as quoted by AFP.

He added that the tents and belongings of his fellow refugees in the Muwazi camp were completely destroyed.

"The water was several inches deep, and there was no proper drainage. Children were playing barefoot in the puddles while women were making tea outside under dark clouds," he continued.

Monsoon rains and bitterly cold temperatures added to the suffering of Gaza refugees, adding to the threats of disease, hunger, and airstrikes. (X @UNRWA)

According to the UN, Muwazi, which was mostly sand dunes before the Israeli military designated it a humanitarian zone at the start of the war, has hosted up to 425,000 Palestinians displaced last summer. Most of them live in temporary or portable tents.

The Israeli defense agency, which has unilaterally assumed responsibility for the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after previously being held by the UN, said it was allowing the entry of aid for Gaza residents' winter preparations, including blankets and thick tarpaulins.

However, this was not enough. International aid organizations not affiliated with the Israeli government warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts were far from adequate, as Gazans soon faced the potential for plummeting winter temperatures and strong winds from the sea.

As thick, black clouds signaled potential rain, some Palestinians sought shelter in buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks, with gaping holes covered with scraps of tarpaulin.

Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza on October 7, 2023. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the Israeli military offensive killed 69,100 Palestinians, including many women and children.

Hamas and Israel then agreed to a ceasefire, which took effect in the first phase, followed by the return of hostages on October 10.

The next stage calls for the establishment of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. However, Hamas and Israel's positions on this stage are unclear.