Nearly one million Palestinians face winter without shelter in Gaza

Nearly one million Palestinians in Gaza are at risk this winter as only 23% of shelter needs have been met, Reliefweb.com reported citing the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Shelter Cluster. With 945,000 people requiring urgent assistance, the situation is dire following Israel’s offensive that displaced an additional 100,000 since October.

The Shelter Cluster reported that only 123 trucks of shelter materials entered Gaza between September and November, averaging just ten trucks weekly. Essential items like tents and sealing-off kits are critically low, with many families forced to flee with minimal belongings.

Recent flooding from a winter storm destroyed many makeshift shelters, exacerbating the crisis.

The Shelter Cluster urges donor governments to advocate for the entry of vital materials and safe access for humanitarian workers. Without immediate action, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians face life-threatening conditions as winter approaches, with temperatures dropping as low as 6°C.