Nearly 2 Million Gazans Still Lacking Adequate Shelter as Winter Approaches

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that almost 2 million people in Gaza still require shelter assistance one year after a ceasefire. Current humanitarian supplies cover only about 17 percent of the identified winter needs, leaving the majority of families exposed to rain, flooding and cold. More than half of the tents and makeshift shelters in use are in poor condition, and 3,600 structures have been flagged as dangerous. The IOM warns that the El Niño‑driven rainfall could worsen unsafe buildings and flooding, especially in displacement sites where 56 percent face medium‑to‑high flood risk. Despite 8,600 pre‑positioned emergency kits outside Gaza, Israeli authorities continue to turn them away at crossing points, limiting the ability of humanitarian teams to deliver needed materials. IOM calls for immediate, predictable access to tents, kits, construction materials and fuel to reinforce shelters and protect lives.