Almost all of Gaza’s population need tents or help with shelter ahead of winter, with the El Niño weather phenomenon expected to bring heavier rainfall, while supplies remain scarce due to Israeli restrictions, the UN migration agency said yesterday.
The El Niño – which could be the strongest ever, according to the UN weather agency – could further weaken unsafe buildings, and cause flooding amid the enclave’s heavily damaged drainage systems.
Almost 2 million people inside the enclave, largely devastated by the war launched by Israel in response to Hamas’ assault in October 2023, require assistance, but only about 17 per cent of the needs for winter shelter supplies have been met by humanitarian actors, IOM Director General Amy Pope said.
“Families who have already endured repeated displacement and devastating loss must be able to face the winter in safety and dignity,” Pope said, adding that constraints by Israeli authorities are making it hard for agencies to scale up their responses. Some 8,600 emergency shelter kits, comprising wood, a tarpaulin and some basic materials, have not been allowed by Israeli authorities to enter Gaza, as they have been determined as dual use, the IOM said.
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