More than 2.15 million displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are living amid an acute humanitarian crisis, with more than 867,000 people sheltering in temporary tents that are unfit for habitation, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
The office released the figures on Monday (August 17), warning that conditions could become even more severe as winter approaches. More than 500,000 children are among the displaced population, raising particular concern over their safety as cold weather and adverse conditions intensify.
The Government Media Office called on the international community to pressure Israeli authorities to allow the rapid entry of weather-resistant tents, insulation materials, cranes and other essential shelter equipment into the besieged Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the office said Gaza’s humanitarian situation had reached an extremely critical stage. It stressed the urgent need to provide safe and suitable shelter for displaced people while also beginning the removal of rubble and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
The statement also highlighted the need to protect the most vulnerable members of the population. People who have lost their homes after prolonged conflict urgently require access to safe shelter, food, clean water and medical care, the office said, warning that the humanitarian situation could deteriorate further without adequate assistance.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about the worsening conditions in Gaza. Israeli military operations have severely disrupted access to food, drinking water and healthcare, while the enormous number of displaced people has made it increasingly difficult to provide even basic services.
According to previous figures from Gaza’s Government Media Office, nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure in the territory has been destroyed since the Israeli military campaign began on October 8, 2023.
As a result, millions of people have not only lost their homes but have also been deprived of essential infrastructure supporting education, healthcare, transportation and other basic services.
The United Nations estimates that approximately $70 billion may be required to rebuild Gaza’s destroyed infrastructure. The enormous financial requirement is expected to make reconstruction a lengthy and highly challenging process.
With winter approaching, concerns are mounting over the fate of hundreds of thousands of people living in makeshift shelters. More than 500,000 children are particularly vulnerable, and their situation could become even more dangerous without safe and weather-resistant accommodation.
Gaza’s Government Media Office has therefore called for immediate international action to facilitate the entry of essential shelter materials, remove rubble, rebuild damaged infrastructure and strengthen protection for the people most at risk.
Source: Al Jazeera.