Trudy Harpham, PhD

This weekend, a massive winter storm battered Gaza. Our teams report that thousands of tents were damaged or destroyed. Strong winds tore away makeshift shelters, while families waded through centimetres-deep floodwaters as rain soaked their few remaining belongings. People were left cold and wet, with nowhere else to go. This is the fourth winter that displaced Palestinians have been forced to endure these conditions. Nearly 13 months after the ceasefire agreement, 2.1 million Palestinians are confined to just 30% of Gaza. Nearly one million people are living in areas at medium to high risk of flooding. Yesterday’s storm exposed the consequences of years of restrictions and shortages. There is not enough heavy machinery in Gaza to prepare sites and mitigate flooding. Even the machinery that is available cannot operate properly because of shortages of engine oil. Those organisations who support with shelter are mobilising to deliver tents and essential household items to families who have lost what little they had. But there are not enough tents and supplies to meet the scale of the need, let alone replace those damaged by the storm. And tents and tarpaulins are not the answer to Gaza’s winter. They cannot withstand heavy rain and strong winds, and many are already worn out after months of use far beyond their intended lifespan. In August, the NRC-led Palestine Shelter Cluster reported that 1.98 million people – 94% of Gaza’s population – needed shelter assistance. Since then, only a fraction of the required supplies have entered, while severe funding gaps are forcing humanitarian agencies to do more with less. We must move beyond repeatedly replacing inadequate tents and scale up transitional shelters that offer families more durable protection. We urgently need heavy machinery, equipment and supplies to enter Gaza to support flood mitigation, clear rubble and prepare safer sites. Palestinians have the right to receive the assistance they need. States must press Israeli authorities to uphold their obligations and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and essential materials. Palestinians must not face another winter without adequate shelter. They cannot wait.