UN: Gaza winter storms damaged shelters for tens of thousands; partners urge shift from tents to repairs
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Summary
UN humanitarian teams say December storms in Gaza damaged or destroyed temporary shelters and flooded displacement sites, affecting tens of thousands; partners report about 80,000 families received aid but say tents alone are insufficient and estimate over 1,000,000 people still need urgent shelter assistance.
The United Nations said winter storms in December severely damaged temporary shelters across Gaza, leaving displacement sites flooded and tens of thousands of people exposed to cold and flooding. "Tents were blown away or damaged," the UN spokesperson said, and partners reported about 80,000 families received more than 40,000 tents and over 135,000 tarpaulins during December.
UN shelter partners warned that tents cannot serve as a primary, sole option for shelter in Gaza and urged an "accelerated shift towards more sustainable solutions, including repairs to damaged homes," the spokesperson said. They also said insufficient land is available for people seeking to relocate to lower-risk areas.
The UN added that during December storms, entire displacement sites were flooded and personal belongings were soaked in several locations; temporary learning spaces and access roads used by aid workers were also damaged, hampering relief operations. The briefing noted that partners estimate "more than 1,000,000 people across Gaza still require urgent shelter assistance."
On a related logistics point, the UN said partners finalized delivery of pre-positioned security communications equipment that had been waiting approval to enter Gaza since August 2024, while other critical equipment, "including key power supply solutions," continue to be denied access.
The UN briefing closed by saying shelter work is ongoing and that humanitarian actors are scaling up where access allows; the spokesperson reiterated calls for predictable access so aid can reach those in need.
