Gaza is facing a dire humanitarian crisis as winter sets in, with hundreds of thousands of families struggling to survive in inadequate shelters. According to Ismail al-Thawabta, Director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with over 288,000 families currently residing in dilapidated tents, exposed to harsh weather conditions.
The Government Media Office has described the situation as a “catastrophe,” exacerbated by restrictions on the entry of vital supplies. A statement released by the office asserts that essential materials for shelter and basic living are being blocked from entering the Gaza Strip, deepening the suffering of civilians.
“We are facing the most dangerous humanitarian disaster since the beginning of the war,” the statement read, highlighting the failure of the international community to provide adequate assistance. The Gaza Strip urgently requires approximately 300,000 tents and mobile homes to provide basic human shelter.
Recent severe weather, including heavy rains and strong winds, has compounded the crisis, flooding tens of thousands of tents and leaving displaced families without even the most basic possessions. Many have already lost their homes due to Israeli military actions over the past two years.
The Government Media Office further accuses Israel of obstructing the delivery of shelter materials, heating equipment, and alternative energy supplies since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10th. They claim Israel is deliberately delaying the implementation of the agreement and violating the humanitarian protocol related to the situation in Gaza, a policy they characterize as a form of collective punishment.
The statement called upon US President Donald Trump, mediating countries, and the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement to take immediate action to compel Israel to adhere to the terms of the agreement and the humanitarian protocol. While acknowledging that Israel has recently allowed limited amounts of shelter materials to enter Gaza, the office insists that these supplies are insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs of the population.
International organizations are expected to assess the needs on the ground and provide emergency assistance, but the scale of the crisis demands a significant and sustained response to avert further suffering.
