Winter Shelter: 294,000 Gaza families await aid
Only 18% of displaced households have access to necessary winter supplies, leaving most to patch damaged tents against rising seas and falling temperatures.
By Jabari Long ·
Displaced residents across the Gaza Strip are bracing for a fourth winter in makeshift shelters. As coastal winds intensify, families reinforce torn nylon and tarpaulin to protect against incoming rain. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 294,250 families require winter shelter assistance. Current supply stocks can serve only 52,000 of those households. This coverage rate stands at approximately 18 percent.
Mohammed al-Jamal, 60, spends his days on a beach in western Gaza City securing his family's shelter. He fastens damaged sheets to the ground with his sons. The group, which includes about 30 extended family members, lives in conditions that flood when it rains. Al-Jamal cannot buy a new tarpaulin. Local market prices range from 120 to 150 shekels, or $37 to $47. He has been displaced multiple times since the conflict started in October 2023.
A recent survey by the Shelter Cluster indicates that more than 65 percent of displaced households occupy tents or improvised structures. Over half of these shelters are rated in poor or very poor condition. Winter temperatures in the region can drop to 7C. Coastal winds and moisture make the environment feel colder. Al-Jamal notes that successive storms often undo the repairs his family makes after every warning.
Logistical barriers continue to hinder relief efforts. Israel's siege has limited the flow of goods into the territory. On October 5, the Norwegian Refugee Council reported that at least 500 truckloads of shelter materials were waiting for entry or procurement. The organization warned that bringing these supplies into Gaza could take more than seven months at the current pace. The cargo includes tents, tarpaulins, ropes, and other repair items.
Khitam Salman, 39, lives near the beach after moving repeatedly over the past two years. She is from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Her family's tent has collapsed four times during the night. Sand enters through torn fabric, offering little protection from storms. Salman's husband works in the health sector but receives his salary only once every three months. The family lacks coverings for two tents and a storage area.
Infrastructure damage exacerbates the risks of flooding. Broken roads, drains, and sewage systems increase the likelihood of wastewater mixing with rainwater. Husni Muhanna, spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, stated that more than 85 percent of the city's infrastructure has been damaged. Rainwater drainage currently operates at roughly 20 percent of its former capacity. Emergency cleaning has begun, but rubble and shortages of fuel, machinery, and materials slow the work.
Yosra Mesleh, 45, is preparing for her second winter in a tent. Her home in the Nassr neighborhood of Gaza City was destroyed. Last winter, rain soaked her bedding and left the family struggling to find dry space. Her husband has been unemployed since the war began. Mesleh also needs cooking utensils, a designated cooking space, and regular gas supplies. "We are asking for tarpaulins and tents, for a dignified life," she said.
The war has resulted in more than 74,500 Palestinian deaths. More than 80 percent of buildings in the territory have been damaged or destroyed. Approximately 1.5 million of the 2.3 million residents now live in tents or improvised shelters. These groups face the approaching cold season with limited resources and damaged surroundings.
