IOM Warns: Two Million People in Gaza Need Urgent Shelter Before Winter

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that more than two million people in the Gaza Strip urgently need shelter as winter approaches, following widespread destruction caused by Israeli bombardment.

In a statement, the organization said, “Nearly the entire population of Gaza, numbering 1.98 million people, still needs assistance in securing shelter one year after the ceasefire was declared.”

The United Nations noted that, after years of forced displacement and widespread destruction, Palestinians lack adequate protection from rain, floods, and cold as winter draws near.

It emphasized that funding shortages and the continued restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on the entry of materials needed for housing rehabilitation by humanitarian organizations are preventing aid from being delivered at the required scale.

The IOM also noted that the tents currently housing most of Gaza’s population are designed for use of no more than 12 months, and 54% of them are in very poor condition. Supplies provided by humanitarian shelter agencies cover only 17% of the population’s needs. Many families are living in buildings damaged during combat, posing a serious threat to life. Humanitarian organizations have identified more than 3,600 buildings that are dangerous and at risk of collapse.

The organization recalled that dozens of people died last September as a result of the collapse of one such building. It pointed out that “the worsening El Niño phenomenon is expected to bring heavier rainfall, which could further weaken dilapidated buildings, while severely damaged sewage networks leave settlements vulnerable to flooding.”