SAFA — Up to 1.5 million displaced Palestinians in Gaza are living in overcrowded, exposed camps as deteriorating shelters and restrictions on relief supplies deepen fears of another humanitarian crisis ahead of winter, the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development warned Monday.

Citing reports and data from UN agencies, the ministry said between 1.2 million and 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are living in camps that lack the minimum requirements for adequate shelter and dignified living conditions.

Around 70–80% of existing tents and temporary shelters have been damaged or completely worn out due to prolonged use and changing weather conditions, leaving displaced families increasingly vulnerable as winter approaches.

The ministry said an immediate response requires at least 200,000 new tents and 300,000 weather-resistant plastic tarpaulins to meet the most urgent shelter needs.

It called on international actors and humanitarian organizations to act immediately and press for the removal of restrictions on the entry of relief shipments into Gaza, warning that further delays could deepen the humanitarian crisis.

The warning comes as hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families remain dependent on temporary shelters after years of displacement, with the ministry stressing the urgent need to provide adequate protection before harsher winter weather arrives.