{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Floods Force Gaza to Choose Between Clean Water and Pumping Out Sewage",
  "summary": "Heavy rainstorms and severe flooding across Gaza have submerged thousands of displacement tents, forcing authorities and residents to choose between powering clean water wells and pumping out overflowing sewage.",
  "content": "Torrential rainstorms swept through Gaza over the weekend of November 8, overwhelming already damaged sewage networks and makeshift shelters. In camps such as Al Maghazi, floodwaters rose well over a foot deep inside tents, compounding the misery of displaced residents who are already struggling to survive amid ongoing conflict and destruction.\n\nThe Dilemma of Water Versus Sewage Pumping\nMunicipal engineer Imad Abdel Jawad explains the impossible choices local authorities face on a daily basis. The diesel required to run drainage pumps is taken directly from the fuel allocation intended for wells that pump drinking water, creating a critical shortage where supplying clean water is already severely constrained. Portions of Al Maghazi sit on low ground where rainwater accumulates without a natural outlet, forcing maintenance teams to manually pump water away from displacement sites.\n\nWidespread Destruction of Shelter and Infrastructure\nThe flooding follows the catastrophic destruction of housing across the territory. Assessments conducted by the European Union, the United Nations, and the World Bank revealed that more than 371,888 housing units have been damaged or destroyed, displacing approximately 1.9 million people, often multiple times. By November 8, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 1.4 million people, representing 65 percent of Gaza's population, were living in tents or makeshift shelters, with over 26,000 households reporting severe damage to their belongings.\n\nRising Health Risks in Overcrowded Clinics\nThe arrival of the rainy season has triggered a surge in pediatric illnesses. Dr Asma Saleh, a general practitioner at the UNRWA clinic in Al Maghazi, reports that the facility treats around 120 children every day. This includes roughly 22 children suffering from influenza-like illnesses and 13 diagnosed with gastroenteritis. Saleh notes that the collapse of basic infrastructure, streets flowing with contaminated wastewater, and severe shortages of medical supplies are dealing a heavy blow to the local healthcare system.\n\nFamilies Face Relentless Hardship\nFor individuals like 46-year-old Hanan Saied, the storms bring immediate danger and distress. Living in an Al Maghazi shelter with mud walls and plastic sheeting, Saied watched helplessly as floodwaters soaked the bedding and clothing she shares with her seven children. While her eldest son attempted makeshift repairs with simple tools, Saied spent the night trying to keep her daughter Sara warm. Sara suffers from asthma, and with no electricity or nebuliser available, the family remains deeply vulnerable to upcoming winter storms.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe severe flooding and infrastructure collapse in Gaza are the direct result of widespread destruction caused by ongoing military conflict and strict import restrictions. Essential systems were already severely degraded before the seasonal rainstorms exacerbated the crisis.\n\n• Damaged Infrastructure: Israeli bombardment and long-term deterioration have left sewage manhole covers missing or broken, allowing heavy rainwater to flood systems that lack the capacity to handle extra volume.\n• Import Restrictions: Humanitarian agencies and municipal authorities face tight restrictions on importing engine oil, lubricants, spare parts, and generators needed to maintain water and sewage pumps.\n• Widespread Displacement: Over a million displaced people living in makeshift tents and damaged shelters lack proper protection against severe weather conditions and accumulated surface water.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. When did the floods occur in Gaza?\nThe floods occurred during the weekend of November 7 and 8 when heavy rainstorms swept through Gaza.\n\n2. How deep was the water inside the tents in Al Maghazi?\nIn some tents located in Al Maghazi, the floodwater rose well over a foot deep.\n\n3. How many people were living in tents or shelters by November 8?\nAccording to UN OCHA estimates, approximately 1.4 million people, or 65 percent of Gaza's population, were living in tents or shelters by November 8.\n\n4. Where does Dr Asma Saleh practice medicine?\nDr Asma Saleh is a general practitioner at the UNRWA clinic located in Al Maghazi.\n\n5. What role does Imad Abdel Jawad hold?\nImad Abdel Jawad is a municipal engineer dealing with water and sewage pumping challenges in Gaza.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/science/floods-force-gaza-to-choose-between-clean-water-and-pumping-out-sewage-59783",
  "category": "Science",
  "publishedAt": "2026-11-14",
  "tags": [
    "Gaza floods",
    "humanitarian crisis",
    "Al Maghazi",
    "UNRWA",
    "displaced shelters"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia",
  "whyItHappened": "The severe flooding and infrastructure collapse in Gaza are the direct result of widespread destruction caused by ongoing military conflict and strict import restrictions. Essential systems were already severely degraded before the seasonal rainstorms exacerbated the crisis.\n\n• Damaged Infrastructure: Israeli bombardment and long-term deterioration have left sewage manhole covers missing or broken, allowing heavy rainwater to flood systems that lack the capacity to handle extra volume.\n• Import Restrictions: Humanitarian agencies and municipal authorities face tight restrictions on importing engine oil, lubricants, spare parts, and generators needed to maintain water and sewage pumps.\n• Widespread Displacement: Over a million displaced people living in makeshift tents and damaged shelters lack proper protection against severe weather conditions and accumulated surface water.",
  "questionsAndAnswers": [
    {
      "question": "When did the floods occur in Gaza?",
      "answer": "The floods occurred during the weekend of November 7 and 8 when heavy rainstorms swept through Gaza."
    },
    {
      "question": "How deep was the water inside the tents in Al Maghazi?",
      "answer": "In some tents located in Al Maghazi, the floodwater rose well over a foot deep."
    },
    {
      "question": "How many people were living in tents or shelters by November 8?",
      "answer": "According to UN OCHA estimates, approximately 1.4 million people, or 65 percent of Gaza's population, were living in tents or shelters by November 8."
    },
    {
      "question": "Where does Dr Asma Saleh practice medicine?",
      "answer": "Dr Asma Saleh is a general practitioner at the UNRWA clinic located in Al Maghazi."
    },
    {
      "question": "What role does Imad Abdel Jawad hold?",
      "answer": "Imad Abdel Jawad is a municipal engineer dealing with water and sewage pumping challenges in Gaza."
    }
  ]
}