52,000 families receive winter aid as 294,250 wait

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that at least 294,250 families in Gaza require winter shelter assistance. Current supply levels cover only 52,000 of those families. This figure represents approximately 18 percent of the total population needing aid.

Residents are entering their fourth winter in the territory since the conflict began in October 2023. More than 1.5 million of the 2.3 million residents currently live in tents or improvised structures. A recent survey by the Shelter Cluster found that over 65 percent of displaced households occupy these shelters. More than half of those structures are rated in poor or very poor condition.

Mohammed al-Jamal, 60, is preparing his family's shelter in western Gaza City. His group of about 30 relatives shares the space. He fastens nylon sheets and tarpaulin to the ground to withstand coastal winds. Al-Jamal stated that he cannot afford a replacement tarpaulin, which costs between 120 and 150 shekels. He noted that storm warnings force the family to reinforce their home, but successive storms undo the repairs.

The Norwegian Refugee Council announced on October 5 that at least 500 truckloads of shelter materials await entry or procurement. The organization warned that current logistics could require more than seven months to deliver these supplies. The items include tents, tarpaulins, and ropes. Israel’s siege has restricted the flow of these goods into the region.

Khitam Salman, 39, lives near the beach in northern Gaza. She reported that her family's tent collapsed four times during sleep. Her husband works in the health sector but receives his salary only once every three months. The family lacks funds for coverings for two tents and a storage area.

Yosra Mesleh, 45, is approaching her second winter in a tent after her home in the Nassr neighbourhood was destroyed. Her husband has been unemployed since the war began. She stated that rain soaked their bedding last winter. “We are asking for tarpaulins and tents, for a dignified life,” she said.

Gaza Municipality spokesperson Husni Muhanna said more than 85 percent of the city's infrastructure is damaged. Rainwater drainage systems operate at roughly 20 percent of their former capacity. Broken roads and sewage systems increase the risk of wastewater mixing with rainwater. Emergency cleaning has begun, but rubble and shortages of machinery and fuel limit progress. Winter temperatures can drop to 7C, and coastal winds make conditions feel colder.