Gaza city: The Government Operations Room and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing announced the launch of the '#RightToShelterGaza' campaign, highlighting the inadequacy of tents in providing protection for displaced individuals amid recent severe weather conditions. Thousands of tents were compromised by heavy rains and strong winds, endangering the lives of children and the elderly due to the lack of safe heating methods. Over 53,000 tents for displaced families were damaged, exacerbating the humanitarian needs across the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency - WAFA, the campaign emerges against a backdrop of alarming humanitarian statistics. Approximately two million people are displaced in Gaza, with nearly one million children living under harsh conditions in inadequately equipped tents. Prior to the conflict, Gaza had around 55,000 individuals with disabilities, a number that has significantly increased due to recent events.
A report by the World Health Organization in September 2025 estimated 42,000 people sustained severe injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation, bringing the total affected by disabilities and serious injuries to around 97,000. Many reside in tents lacking basic safety standards, further exacerbating their struggles.
Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics shows about 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza face acute shelter shortages. These women live in inadequate tents lacking protection from the cold and necessary privacy, heightening health and humanitarian risks amid harsh conditions.
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Israeli aggression has devastated Gaza's housing sector. Approximately 90% of civilian infrastructure is destroyed, with over 355,000 housing units damaged, including 295,000 units completely destroyed or uninhabitable. This destruction has intensified displacement, deepening the shelter crisis.
The Government Operations Room reports that humanitarian organizations face challenges in meeting urgent shelter needs due to shortages of materials and lack of fuel, hindering operations like road clearing and rainwater drainage. The Israeli occupation restricts the entry of prefabricated housing units, allowing only limited tents, increasing the vulnerability of displaced individuals.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing advocates for prefabricated housing units as the most suitable temporary shelter solution, given the long reconstruction timeline and harsh weather conditions. Gaza requires 200,000 prefabricated units, yet Israel's restrictions compel reliance on tents, a temporary and unsafe alternative.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), tents are only suitable for immediate emergency response and not for winter shelter, as they cannot withstand adverse weather conditions.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA