Humanitarians drain flooded sites, deliver aid in Gaza: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said Tuesday that they and partners are scrambling to aid more than 200,000 residents of Gaza who, according to estimates, may have been affected following the heavy rains over the weekend.

Site management partners and others reported damage as of Monday to more than 40,000 family shelters and over 900 latrines. Nine health facilities also suffered damage, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Humanitarian partners say there are not enough places to which people in flooded areas and war-damaged buildings can relocate," OCHA said. "This is because Israeli authorities are still restricting Palestinian access anywhere behind the so-called 'Yellow Line,' which means that most of Gaza's land remains off limit."

The office said its partners warn that their ability to provide timely support is limited, leaving many in poor living conditions. By Monday, support had reached about 750 households, or roughly 4,500 people. Assistance included tents, tarpaulins, blankets, plastic sheets, mattresses, cereal packages, jerrycans and hygiene kits.

Palestinian children are seen near tents for displaced people in west of Gaza City, on Feb. 19, 2026. (File photo: Xinhua)

Partners have also identified 245 shelter sites and 23 road locations needing immediate interventions with heavy machinery, mostly in Gaza and North Gaza governorates. Early on Tuesday, a partner demolished an unsafe building in Gaza City following the voluntary relocation of 10 families from the building, who were given basic shelter, water and sanitation assistance in alternative locations.

OCHA said partners leading on water and sanitation deployed heavy machinery, from the extremely limited equipment available in Gaza, to 25 displacement sites, allowing teams to remove floodwater, clear drainage channels and level the ground, reaching an estimated 3,700 families. Other partners have cleared blocked sewer lines and stormwater basins at 60 locations, benefiting an estimated 30,000 families.

The office said that child protection services distributed winter clothing kits to more than 7,800 children and cash assistance to 300 children. Safety awareness activities have reached about 1,700 children and caregivers.

"Humanitarian partners also stress that urgent humanitarian funding and Israeli approvals are needed to bring more heavy machinery into Gaza -- as well as engine oil and spare parts -- to keep vehicles, equipment and backup generators running," OCHA said. "They are calling on everyone with influence to also expedite the entry of shelter and other humanitarian supplies critical for the winter, stressing that this is a matter of life and death."