SAFA — Nearly 300,000 displaced Palestinian families in Gaza face the threat of flooding as winter approaches, with most tents worn out, shelter supplies running dangerously low, and Israeli restrictions preventing essential materials from reaching families left homeless by Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Gaza's Ministry of Social Development warned that approximately 90 percent of tents currently used by displaced families are torn, deteriorating, or unfit for habitation after prolonged exposure to the sun and wind.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are preparing to endure their fourth winter amid displacement, many still living in fragile shelters that offer little protection against heavy rain, strong winds, and falling temperatures.

According to the ministry, approximately 85 percent of Gaza's housing units have been damaged or destroyed, leaving countless families with no alternative to tents and makeshift shelters.

The ministry warned that winter storms could flood displacement camps, worsen already dangerous health and sanitation conditions, and force families to flee yet again.

Gaza's Displaced Families Face Severe Shelter Shortages

The ministry said the humanitarian shelter response faces a funding gap of approximately $186.7 million, with only 34 percent of the required funding secured.

It also warned that emergency stocks of tents in international warehouses have been exhausted, leaving humanitarian organizations struggling to meet the growing demand for adequate shelter.

Continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of tents, tarpaulins, insulation materials, and other essential supplies have further hindered preparations for the approaching winter.

The ministry called for the immediate entry of 200,000 new weather-resistant tents and 300,000 emergency shelter kits containing reinforced plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, and thermal and waterproof insulation.

These materials are urgently needed to protect displaced families from rain, flooding, and cold weather.

UN Data Reveal Shortage of Shelter Materials Entering Gaza

United Nations figures also illustrate the limited volume of shelter materials entering Gaza through commercial channels.

Between August 24 and 30, 2026, a total of 865 private-sector commercial trucks entered the Gaza Strip.

Only 99 of those trucks carried shelter materials, accounting for approximately 11.4 percent of commercial shipments during that week.

In a report published on September 4, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) identified an urgent need for large quantities of shelter supplies, including at least 141,000 tarpaulins or plastic sheets.

The figures come as Palestinian families continue to live in overcrowded displacement camps, where damaged tents and inadequate drainage leave them vulnerable to flooding.

For families who have already lost their homes and endured repeated displacement, the arrival of winter threatens another struggle for survival, with little more than torn fabric separating their children from the rain and cold.