Winter Rains Worsen Conditions for Gazans

As winter approaches, nearly one million Gazans face inadequate shelter amid ongoing Israeli bombardments and severe restrictions on aid. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 945,000 people require urgent winterization support, while only 285,000 have received assistance since September.

Since October 6, 2024, attacks on civilian infrastructure have surged, with 170,812 structures damaged or destroyed. The World Health Organization reports alarming conditions in hospitals, and diseases like respiratory infections and diarrhoea are rising, particularly among children.

Aid convoys face extreme insecurity, with recent attacks leading to significant losses of food and supplies. OCHA reported that of 339 planned aid operations, only 30% were approved. The humanitarian situation is dire, with 273 Palestinians killed and 853 injured in the past week alone, bringing total casualties since October 7, 2023, to over 45,059 fatalities and 107,041 injuries. Immediate action is essential to protect vulnerable populations.