Gaza’s drainage system runs at 20 percent capacity as winter looms

Gaza is preparing for its fourth winter of displacement, with temperatures expected to drop to 7C and coastal winds intensifying. The lack of durable shelter leaves residents vulnerable to rain and wind that have consistently damaged makeshift structures.

Husni Muhanna, spokesperson for the Gaza Municipality, stated that more than 85 percent of the city’s infrastructure is damaged. The rainwater drainage system is currently operating at only about 20 percent of its previous capacity. Rubble, broken networks, and shortages of heavy machinery and fuel are slowing emergency cleaning and maintenance efforts.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 294,250 families require winter shelter assistance. Current supplies allow only 52,000 families to receive partial help. This covers roughly 18 percent of those in need, leaving the majority without official support.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said on October 5 that at least 500 truckloads of shelter materials are waiting for entry or procurement. These materials include tents, tarpaulins, and ropes. At the current pace, the agency estimates it will take more than seven months for these supplies to enter the enclave.

Mohammed al-Jamal, 60, lives with about 30 family members in a tent on a beach in western Gaza City. He patches his worn shelter using local materials. A replacement tarpaulin costs between 120 and 150 shekels, a price his family cannot afford. He described the cycle of preparation as continuous suffering, noting that storms often tear apart their efforts.

Khitam Salman, 39, reported that one of her family’s tents has collapsed four times while they were sleeping. Sand enters the structure, and rain soaks their belongings. Her husband works in the health sector but receives his salary only once every three months. Salman said the family has done what it can with the materials available to them.

Yosra Mesleh, 45, is preparing for her second winter in a tent after her home in the Nassr neighbourhood was destroyed. She worries about finding a dry place to sit or cook when rain enters the shelter. Her husband has been out of work since the war began, and the family relies on limited resources to prepare meals.

More than 65 percent of displaced households live in tents or makeshift shelters, according to a Shelter Cluster survey. Over half of these structures are in poor or very poor condition. The war has killed more than 74,500 Palestinians and damaged more than 80 percent of buildings in Gaza.