The miserable existence of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, with many living in tattered tents after their homes were ravaged by Israel’s bombardment, is worsened by strong winds, rain, and winter conditions.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who returned to northern Gaza last month after a ceasefire took hold found their homes either destroyed or badly damaged. Shelter has since become an increasingly desperate struggle in the debris.
A spokesperson for the municipality of Gaza City said that resources are inadequate to help the displaced during the storm, and there are reports of sewage and rainwater flooding into many tents. In one makeshift encampment at a school courtyard, conditions are bleak. Residents report that blankets are soaked, and families are facing harsh weather without adequate shelter.
The heavy rain and strong winds have compelled many to leave their makeshift shelter in western Gaza City. People still lack even the minimum supplies, such as warm clothing. This is not just about a lack of shelters; people also lack basic supplies for warmth and protection from the elements: Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud.
Food, water, tents and shelter materials are still urgently needed, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Over 500,000 people have returned to Gaza and North Gaza governorates. Humanitarian aid delivery increased since the ceasefire declared on January 19, but shelter assistance has remained extremely limited.
The Hamas Government Media Office in Gaza recently accused Israel of holding up the flow of aid, as well as shelter materials. “Securing adequate shelter is an urgent humanitarian priority,” it said. UNICEF warned about the risks to children, who are more vulnerable to the cold. Reports say some children have already suffered from hypothermia and there is a desperate need for warm clothing and shoes.
Elsewhere, in Deir el-Balah for instance, families displaced by the war remain under very harsh conditions, with winds ripping apart tents. The municipality of Rafah has called for 40,000 more tents and emergency shelters as the city struggles to absorb the internally displaced due to the ongoing crisis. The lack of heavy machinery is hampering efforts to clear rubble and reopen roads, further complicating the humanitarian situation.
