SAFA — Some 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip urgently need winter assistance and protection as Israeli restrictions on humanitarian supplies, widespread destruction, and mass displacement leave hundreds of thousands of families exposed to heavy rainfall, flooding, and increasingly dangerous living conditions, Palestinian Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad warned Monday.

Speaking at a news conference at the Government Communication Center in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, Hamad said approximately 30% of relief and shelter supplies remain stranded at border crossings because of Israeli restrictions, preventing essential assistance from reaching displaced Palestinians.

She warned that Gaza's humanitarian emergency cannot be addressed through financial assistance alone while desperately needed tents, winter supplies, and equipment remain unable to reach the population.

The minister called for the immediate entry of humanitarian relief, shelter materials, winter essentials, and machinery needed to repair infrastructure devastated by Israel's military operations.

More Than 1.76 Million Palestinians Living in Overcrowded Shelters

Hamad said more than 1.76 million Palestinians, approximately 84% of Gaza's population, are living in overcrowded displacement sites, where deteriorating conditions have left families increasingly vulnerable to severe weather.

More than 65% of families are staying in tents or temporary shelters, many of which provide little protection against heavy rain, strong winds, and cold temperatures.

According to the minister, more than 370,000 housing units have been damaged or destroyed during Israel's military assault on Gaza, leaving large numbers of Palestinians without safe homes to return to.

She warned that more than 300,000 families lack adequate protection against winter conditions, placing children, older people, and other vulnerable residents at particular risk.

The scale of displacement, combined with the destruction of residential neighborhoods and essential services, has left families dependent on emergency shelter supplies that remain critically scarce.

Gaza Urgently Needs 200,000 Tents and Tarpaulins

Hamad said Gaza urgently requires at least 200,000 tents and 200,000 tarpaulins to address the growing shelter emergency.

The minister warned that the shortage of weather-resistant accommodation is exposing displaced Palestinians to potentially deadly conditions, particularly as winter storms flood displacement camps and damage already fragile shelters.

She reported that 19 people had died from hypothermia-related causes over the past two years, underscoring the risks facing families without adequate heating or protection from the cold.

More than 1,600 displacement sites are also at increasing risk of flooding and rainwater accumulation, she said.

The danger is compounded by the destruction of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure, with approximately 80% of water facilities requiring repairs.

Without functioning drainage systems, adequate shelter, and the equipment needed to remove floodwater, displaced families face worsening sanitation conditions and heightened health risks.

Israeli Restrictions Obstruct Winter Relief

Hamad stressed that the humanitarian response remains severely constrained by Israeli restrictions on the entry of essential supplies.

Although funding is urgently needed, she warned that financial contributions alone cannot protect families when shelter materials, winter clothing, relief supplies, and repair equipment cannot enter Gaza in sufficient quantities.

The restrictions have complicated efforts to replace damaged tents, reinforce temporary shelters, restore water and sanitation services, and prepare displacement camps for further storms.

The crisis unfolds against the backdrop of extensive destruction caused by Israel's military operations, which have devastated homes, public facilities, roads, and essential infrastructure across the Gaza Strip.

According to the casualty figures cited in the report, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 wounded since October 2023.

The destruction has left much of Gaza's population displaced and dependent on humanitarian assistance for basic survival.

Minister Calls for Immediate Humanitarian Access

Hamad warned that Gaza's winter emergency will continue to worsen unless restrictions on humanitarian supplies are lifted and displaced Palestinians receive adequate shelter and protection.

She emphasized that emergency relief must include not only financial assistance but also the immediate delivery of tents, tarpaulins, winter essentials, and equipment needed to restore damaged infrastructure.

With more than two million Palestinians facing urgent winter needs, the minister's warning underscores the growing gap between the scale of Gaza's humanitarian emergency and the assistance currently reaching displaced families.

For hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in overcrowded tents and temporary shelters, timely access to essential supplies is critical to surviving the winter safely.

Source : Safa News