Gaza Braces for Winter as Nearly One Million Face Shelter Crisis

Image Credit, NRC

Nearly one million Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for a harsh winter without adequate shelter, as only 23% of the region’s urgent shelter needs have been met, according to the Shelter Cluster in Palestine, led by the Norwegian Refugee Council. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing military offensive and blockade, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and severely restricted the flow of essential shelter materials into the territory.

Since early October, an additional 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced, bringing the total number of individuals requiring shelter assistance to 945,000. The Shelter Cluster estimated in September that 2,000 trucks of tents or 200 trucks of sealing-off kits were urgently needed to meet basic winterisation requirements for 1.13 million displaced people. By late November, only 285,000 individuals had received essential shelter supplies.

Aid deliveries have been constrained as flour, critical to address widespread starvation, is being prioritized for transport through Gaza’s limited entry points. The Shelter Cluster has called on donor governments to pressure Israel to permit the entry of weatherproofing materials and ensure safe access for humanitarian workers. “We’ve received only a fraction of the aid required to address the shelter crisis,” said Jeroen Quanjer, Shelter Cluster chair in Palestine. He added that Israeli authorities’ repeated denial of essential materials has prevented the construction of emergency shelters capable of withstanding Gaza’s severe winter conditions.

Recent winter storms have compounded the crisis. Flooding in late November destroyed tents and makeshift shelters, forcing many families to relocate once again. Displacement sites south of Wadi Gaza, home to over 450,000 Palestinians, are particularly vulnerable to flooding, with at least 101 sites affected. Mahmoud, a displaced resident in Deir al-Balah, described waking to find floodwaters engulfing his family’s tent. “Our children were asleep as the water reached them. Our mattresses and clothes are ruined. Now, there’s nothing left, just a lake of water. I feel abandoned.”

Repeated displacements have forced families to leave behind critical shelter materials, many of which have deteriorated over time due to wear and tear. Replacement supplies have been scarce. Between September and late November, only 123 trucks carrying shelter assistance entered Gaza, averaging just ten trucks per week—far below the levels required to address the mounting crisis. Many of these shipments included items unrelated to winterisation, leaving critical needs unmet.

The Shelter Cluster has warned of the dire consequences if additional supplies are not delivered urgently. “Further delays in providing essential shelter materials will leave hundreds of thousands exposed to life-threatening conditions this winter,” the organization cautioned. Temperatures in Gaza can drop as low as 6°C, with the risk of hypothermia and other severe health conditions looming for those without adequate protection.

International law obliges Israel, as the occupying power, to facilitate humanitarian aid under Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Despite these obligations, access to Gaza remains heavily restricted, leaving its population increasingly vulnerable. The Shelter Cluster continues to advocate for the immediate entry of sealing-off kits, tarpaulins, and other winterisation materials, emphasizing that swift action is critical to prevent further suffering.

The crisis in Gaza is a stark reminder of the devastating human toll of the ongoing conflict and blockade, underscoring the urgent need for sustained international intervention to address the region’s worsening humanitarian disaster.