UN and Palestinian Officials Warn of Gaza Winter Crisis
Palestinian and UN officials warn that 2.1 million people in Gaza face a man-made disaster as winter begins with severe shelter shortages.
Palestinian Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov warned on Monday that 2.1 million people in the Gaza Strip require urgent protection and assistance as winter begins. During a press conference in Ramallah, officials reported that 1.76 million people are living in overcrowded displacement sites, with over 65% residing in tents or makeshift shelters.
Recent heavy rainfall has already killed five people in a sand cliff collapse in Deir al-Balah and affected approximately 26,000 families. Hamad stated that 30% of allocated relief supplies remain stranded at border crossings and only 10% of the materials available for the current winter response compared to previous years are present.
Alakbarov characterized the vulnerability as a "man-made disaster" resulting from the destruction of infrastructure by military operations. Both officials called on Israeli authorities to lift restrictions on the entry of essential winter supplies, including tents, tarpaulins, and water suction trucks, warning that the window for preparation is rapidly closing.
