With winter fast approaching, Gaza’s already shattered infrastructure is on the brink of a new humanitarian disaster. The head of the local Water Authority has warned that neighbourhoods across the enclave could face severe flooding unless urgent repairs are made to the devastated water and sewage networks, systems that have been left in ruins by months of bombardment and blockade.

Generators, essential for operating what remains of Gaza’s water stations, can now run for no more than six hours a day due to severe fuel shortages. The official described the situation as “catastrophic”, with wastewater and freshwater systems overlapping in several areas, a situation that risks outbreaks of disease and contamination. “The destruction is vast,” he said, noting that without spare parts and maintenance equipment, any further rainfall could submerge low-lying districts within days.

Appeals have been made to the United Nations and international guarantors to pressure the occupying authorities to open border crossings for the urgent delivery of equipment and fuel. Yet, as the political deadlock continues, Gaza’s residents brace for another season of suffering, where cold rain may bring not relief, but the threat of floods sweeping through what remains of their homes.