Gaza Landslide Kills Five After Heavy Rains Collapse Sand Bank

A landslide caused by severe weather has left five people dead in Gaza after a sand bank collapsed onto a camp for displaced families south of Deir al-Balah. The weekend disaster destroyed at least three tents and prompted a frantic rescue effort by local residents. Among those killed were a mother and her two young children, aged eight and six.

Witnesses described the incident as terrifying, with the collapse sounding like an explosion and burying families beneath sand and massive boulders. Residents rushed to the scene with hammers, shovels, and flashlights to dig through the rubble. Toby Fricker, a spokesperson for Unicef, noted that the tragedy was a disaster waiting to happen due to severe overcrowding and inadequate shelter conditions across the territory.

A landslide in Gaza killed five people and crushed tents housing displaced families after severe storms.

Witness to the Crisis

Abdul Karim al-Sahhar, a local resident whose own shelter was destroyed, recounted the ordeal of trying to save the trapped victims. The father of the deceased children survived only because he was delayed while returning to the family tent for a meal. When the embankment gave way, he cried out for help, leading neighbors to break apart a massive boulder that blocked access to those buried underneath.

Shelter Shortages and Reconstruction Delays

The United Nations reported that more than 26,000 households suffered damage to shelters and belongings following the weekend rainstorms. The Hamas-run government media office stated that tens of thousands of tents were flooded on the first day of rain. Relief efforts have faced ongoing restrictions, with humanitarian workers noting that dual-use items like metal tent poles remain blocked, forcing reliance on wooden alternatives fashioned from transport palettes.

Cogat, the Israeli defense ministry body overseeing aid, stated that tens of thousands of tents and thousands of trucks carrying tarpaulins, blankets, fuel, and winter clothing have entered Gaza. Meanwhile, the broader territory remains largely devastated following years of conflict, with reconstruction efforts stalled as negotiators fail to finalize terms for disarmament and troop withdrawals.

Why it matters

The disaster highlights the severe humanitarian vulnerabilities faced by millions of displaced individuals living in overcrowded tent encampments across Gaza during winter weather. With restrictions on building materials and limited access to durable housing, seasonal storms continue to pose life-threatening risks to vulnerable populations.