The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Monday that the onset of winter is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip, Anadolu has reported. The agency’s media officer Enas Hamdan told Anadolu that displaced families are facing “dire conditions” in light of heavy rains, strong winds and large waves on the coast, alongside the continued “severe shortage” of humanitarian aid.
Hamdan noted that many tents housing displaced families have been damaged by the weather, leaving residents without adequate shelter. “We are talking about a catastrophic humanitarian situation with critical shortages of essential winter supplies,” she added.
Basic items such as flour and food supplies are nearly depleted, said the UNRWA official, while there is a severe shortage of reinforced plastic sheeting and nylon used to create makeshift tents for displaced families.
UNRWA has distributed around 13,000 packs of winter essentials in southern and central Gaza, but these supplies cover only a fraction of the needs. Indeed, the crisis extends beyond shelter, affecting healthcare as well.
Hamdan pointed to a significant shortage of medical supplies and essential medicines, compounded by overcrowding and inadequate living conditions. She warned that nearly 1.8 million displaced people are at increased risk of disease due to poor sanitation and insufficient healthcare.
Describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “extremely grim,” she highlighted the urgent need for international action to address residents’ needs and alleviate their suffering. Increased pressure on responsible parties is needed to allow a greater flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, said Hamdan, noting that current aid shipments — limited to around 30 trucks daily — are insufficient, given the overwhelming need. “This incoming aid is merely a drop in the ocean compared with the dire needs of Palestinians amid a suffocating humanitarian crisis.”
The challenges for Gaza’s displaced residents — estimated at around two million — are compounded by ongoing Israeli military operations and a devastating winter storm. Local municipalities in Gaza have issued repeated warnings about the worsening humanitarian situation, but continued Israeli air strikes, a relentless blockade and a lack of resources have left the crisis largely unaddressed.
Earlier on Monday, Gaza’s government media office said that approximately 10,000 tents housing displaced residents were destroyed or washed away by waves over the past two days due to severe weather conditions.
READ: Pope Francis condemns ‘arrogance of occupiers” in Palestine, Ukraine