Winter approaches in Gaza: Tents fail to withstand, homes destroyed, displaced people without safe shelter

Although the rains have not yet arrived, winter has already begun knocking on the doors of displaced people in the Gaza Strip. A passing low-pressure system brought winds lasting less than 24 hours without significant rainfall, but it was enough to bring back memories of past winters for thousands of families who have lived for nearly three years in tents and makeshift shelters that cannot withstand the wind, let alone rain and cold.

Abu Salama Hajji, displaced from eastern Gaza City, began preparing a tent for his family a few days ago. He is not looking for a comfortable tent, but simply trying to make the shelter where his children will find refuge able to withstand another season of cold and rain. In an interview with the newspaper Falastin, he said that tarpaulins, wood, and securing materials have become an additional burden, forcing him to purchase necessities in stages according to available money. He fears that winter will arrive before he can properly secure his tent, noting that the wind alone was enough to test the fragile shelter's resilience.

In the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood southwest of Gaza City, sixty-year-old Nasser Hassan chose to remain in his rented apartment despite extensive damage from bombing. Parts of the walls collapsed, and gaps left the place exposed to the elements, but for him, it remains the only shelter for his family. He spends his time repairing what he can, using whatever wood and tarpaulins he can find to seal the walls and gaps before rain and cold arrive. He says the problem is not just the availability of materials but their high prices, forcing him to repair one part at a time as means allow.

Across displacement camps and shelters, the story is repeated: families try to reinforce tents with whatever they can find, reuse old tarpaulins, or wait for insufficient humanitarian aid. For months, UN and international organizations have warned of the ongoing shelter crisis in the Gaza Strip, where a large number of residents live in tents, makeshift shelters, or war-damaged homes. Last August, the UN stressed the urgent need to bring in shelter supplies, including wood, ropes, and tools, to enable families to reinforce their temporary dwellings. Shelter sector assessments indicate that needs extend beyond prefabricated tents to include materials for repairing and upgrading existing shelters, needs that become increasingly urgent as winter approaches.