DaysofPal – Humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip are getting worse, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned, describing the situation as dire and becoming more unlivable.
OCHA reported that more than one million people in Gaza urgently require shelter assistance following the widespread destruction of residential areas and the severe shortage of basic necessities.
The office stressed the need for sustainable solutions to address these needs, including tools to repair damaged homes, materials for establishing shared heating spaces, and equipment to clear rubble from destroyed neighborhoods.
Over 7,500 families received tents, plastic sheeting, insulation supplies, mattresses, and blankets from the UN and its humanitarian partners over the course of the last week, according to OCHA. Winter clothing was also provided to around 1,400 children across different parts of the territory.
The office added that UN agencies and partner organizations supply daily bread to at least 43 percent of Gaza’s population, either free of charge or at subsidized prices below one dollar for a two-kilogram package. Monthly wheat flour distributions are also ongoing, with approximately 1.2 million people receiving food assistance this month.
Humanitarian partners have further delivered cash and in-kind support to more than 2,300 families since last week to help them cope with harsh winter conditions. Mental health services, psychosocial support, and case management have also been offered to hundreds of residents.
Olga Cherevko, an OCHA spokesperson in Gaza, recently stated that the region’s shelter needs are enormous. She explained that around 1.9 million people require some form of shelter assistance or improved housing conditions, a figure that reflects the massive destruction and widespread displacement caused by the war.
Cherevko noted that OCHA and its partners are working to respond to these overwhelming needs while acknowledging that current resources fall far short of what is required. She emphasized that the gap between humanitarian needs and available assistance remains significant.
She also highlighted the growing number of deaths linked to extreme cold, particularly among young children and infants, calling them among the most heartbreaking tragedies in Gaza’s current humanitarian crisis. The loss of children due to low temperatures, she said, illustrates the severity of the suffering endured by the population.
Tens of thousands of displacement tents have been blown away, flooded, or damaged as a result of recent weather depressions that have worsened living conditions in the Gaza Strip. The storms also led to the collapse of dozens of buildings that had previously been weakened by Israeli bombardment, resulting in additional civilian harm.
Approximately 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed as a result of Israel’s campaign, according to data made public by the Government Media Office of Gaza.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=71726
