Palestinians in Gaza dread another winter with nowhere safe to shelter

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction and displacement, with over 70,000 Palestinians losing their lives, primarily women and children. This has left many homes damaged or uninhabitable, forcing families to cope with the upcoming rainy season without safe shelter. In central Gaza, Abdullah Siyam and his family have no alternative but to move their bedding to a single corner of their house where water does not seep through the roof.

Mariam Abu Hazein, another resident, spends rainy days pushing water out of her home and borrowing containers from her daughter to collect it. Prices for tarpaulins have risen, making it difficult for many to afford replacements. Ahmed al-Siqali, who was displaced from Khan Younis, spent around 1,200 shekels to equip and reinforce his tent, a sum he raised with help from outside the territory.

According to a June assessment, 71% of families surveyed in damaged buildings said they could not afford repair materials. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with over 4,000 damaged buildings requiring demolition, including 2,300 still inhabited by nearly 44,000 people. The risk of structural collapse is ongoing, as evidenced by the collapse of the Al-Saada residential building in Gaza City, which killed 21 Palestinians, including 12 children and five women.

In response, the government announced plans to demolish and evacuate around 255 at-risk buildings, but the process faces challenges such as shortages of heavy machinery, funding, and safe land. The UN Shelter Cluster has received only 26% of its required funding, with only $193.7 million allocated out of the needed $740 million.

With preparations underway to make flood-prone displacement sites safe, the harsh reality remains that many families dread another winter without safe shelter.