Residents of Gaza City and displaced people in temporary shelters face growing risks as the rainy season approaches, with extensive damage to buildings and sewage networks threatening to turn seasonal rainfall into an additional source of danger. Hundreds of buildings in the city are at risk of collapse, while camps for displaced people lack adequate means of protection from rain and flooding.
These concerns follow extensive damage to infrastructure during the Israeli war on Gaza, affecting roads, water and sewage networks, and residential buildings. The condition of damaged facilities and temporary shelters increases the likelihood of families being exposed to cold weather and water leaks, particularly in low-lying, overcrowded areas without adequate drainage networks.
UN warnings ahead of the rainy season
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are facing the rainy season in overcrowded displacement sites, amid risks of flooding and disease outbreaks. It said a lack of funding and restrictions on access and the entry of materials and equipment were limiting humanitarian agencies’ ability to carry out the preparations required before winter.
The risks are compounded by thousands of people living in damaged and unsafe buildings because no housing alternatives are available. On 16 September 2026, a damaged six-storey residential building collapsed in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa area, killing 21 people, including 12 children, and injuring dozens, according to the civil defence service.
Building damage increases collapse risks
The UN said rescue teams were suffering from a severe shortage of heavy machinery, specialised equipment, fuel and spare parts. A detailed damage assessment carried out by two humanitarian organisations since January 2026 examined 38,240 buildings containing 178,632 housing units across the Strip.
Sewage plant shutdowns threaten public health
This is resulting in more than 150,000 cubic metres of untreated wastewater being discharged into the environment each day, increasing the risks of water contamination and disease outbreaks, particularly when rain falls and flooding occurs. The United Nations Children’s Fund and its partners are working to restore operations at the Sheikh Ajlin sewage treatment facility in Gaza City, which served around 700,000 people before sustaining extensive damage.
Wastewater is currently being discharged into the Sheikh Radwan basin, which was originally built to collect rainwater, placing additional pressure on its capacity as the rainy season approaches. The UN said partners repaired 19 water and sewage facilities between June and August, but they were still operating at limited capacity because of electricity shortages.
Preparations have also included cleaning and improving drainage channels at some displacement sites and distributing materials to support shelter repairs, but the scope of the interventions remains limited compared with the scale of the needs.
Humanitarian agencies are supporting the voluntary relocation of families from damaged buildings and flood-prone areas to safer locations, but shortages of tents, protective coverings and shelter materials are obstructing these efforts. Families living in unstable buildings and temporary tents remain at risk of structural collapse, rainwater leaks and contamination of their surroundings with sewage.
