NewKerala.com

Over 1 Million in Gaza Desperately Need Shelter Amid Harsh Winter

The UN reports that over one million people in Gaza—half the population—still urgently need shelter assistance despite distributions since the ceasefire. Harsh winter conditions are exacerbating the crisis, with hundreds of thousands struggling in rain-damaged makeshift tents. Concurrently, solid waste management has severely deteriorated due to infrastructure damage and fuel shortages, creating major public health risks. The UN is urging Israel to reconsider plans to ban international NGOs, warning they are central to humanitarian operations in the territory.

Key Points: Gaza Shelter Crisis: 1 Million Need Aid, UN Warns

  • Shelter crisis affects half of Gaza's population
  • Winter weather damages makeshift tents
  • Solid waste management systems collapsing
  • UN urges Israel to reconsider NGO ban
2 min read

Over one million people in Gaza still urgently need shelter assistance: UN

UN reports over 1 million in Gaza urgently require shelter as winter worsens conditions, with critical waste management and NGO access challenges.

"harsh winter conditions leave hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggling in makeshift tents damaged by rain, wind and seawater waves. - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs"

United Nations, Jan 3

An estimated more than 1 million people, or every other person in Gaza, still urgently need shelter assistance, the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said.

According to the office, the shelter assistance needs remain, although humanitarians have distributed thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands of tarpaulins and other items across the strip since the ceasefire, Xinhua news agency reported.

It cited the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as saying that humanitarians in Gaza continue to help the most vulnerable families as harsh winter conditions leave hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggling in makeshift tents damaged by rain, wind and seawater waves.

Meanwhile, UN partners working in water, sanitation and hygiene are facing challenges in managing solid waste as the gap widens between the quantity collected and accumulated, due to the inability to reach landfills, damaged infrastructure and fuel shortages, said the spokesperson's office.

Despite the impediments, UN Children's Fund-supported teams have removed 1,000 tonnes of solid waste every month since the ceasefire, helping safeguard the well-being and health of children and their families.

The UN Development Programme noted in December that solid waste management is among the most affected services, with only a few of the temporary dumping sites accessible and operational, compounding the environmental and public health risks, the spokesperson's office added.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, bringing together UN entities and their partners, urged the Israeli authorities to reconsider their plan to ban many international non-governmental organizations from operating, stressing that those organizations are central to humanitarian operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The waste management crisis is a ticking health bomb, especially for children. UNICEF teams removing 1000 tonnes monthly is commendable, but it's a drop in the ocean. Why are NGOs being banned when they are so critical? This logic escapes me.
A
Aman W
As an Indian, our foreign policy has been balanced. But reading this, one has to ask - where is the humanity? Banning aid groups during such a crisis is unacceptable. The world cannot look away. Jai Hind.
S
Sarah B
The article mentions "harsh winter conditions" and "makeshift tents damaged by rain." Having volunteered in relief camps after floods in India, I know how quickly disease can spread in such settings. The focus must be on immediate, unconditional humanitarian access.
V
Vikram M
A million people. Let that number sink in. That's more than the population of many of our districts. The UN is doing what it can, but political will from the powerful nations is missing. India should use its growing global voice to push for a permanent solution.
K
Karthik V
While the suffering is undeniable, I respectfully think our media should also give equal weight to the reasons how this situation started. A balanced view is necessary for Indians to form a complete opinion. Still, no civilian should suffer like this.
N
Nisha Z

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50