Palestinians in Gaza dread another winter with nowhere safe to shelter

A building marked for demolition is considered too damaged to remain safely occupied. It may need to be partly or completely demolished. This matters because damaged structures can expose residents to leaks, falling materials, or sudden collapse.

In Gaza, nearly 44,000 people still live in more than 2,300 buildings identified for demolition. Abdullah Siyam moves his family’s bedding to the one dry corner of their cracked home when it rains. Other families collect water indoors or push it outside.

People stay because safer housing is unavailable. Gaza’s civil defence said residents of the Al-Saada building had been warned before it collapsed, but they remained because there was nowhere else to go. The collapse killed 21 Palestinians, including 12 children and five women. Evacuation requires shelter, land, transport, and supplies that remain scarce.

The article describes a large structural danger across Gaza. More than 4,000 damaged buildings need full or partial demolition. Of these, over 2,300 remain inhabited by nearly 44,000 people. These figures show that unsafe housing is not limited to isolated cases.

The article does not state how many families face flood risks specifically at displacement sites. It describes families in tents and damaged homes dealing with rain, leaking roofs, and worn tarpaulins. A UN stock estimate counted about 17,000 tents, tarpaulins, and shelter kits, expected to support around 50,000 families.

The gap between need and available protection remains serious. The Shelter Cluster had received only 26% of its required funding by 18 September. Supplies were at different stages of readiness, rather than all waiting at border crossings, so actual protection could still be delayed.

Winter rain makes already unsafe shelter even harder to live in. Cracked roofs leak, rooms flood, and tents lose protection when tarpaulins are worn or damaged. Families may have to move bedding, collect water, or push it outside instead of staying dry.

In Al-Mughraqa, Abdullah Siyam moves his family’s mattresses to the only corner without seepage. Mariam Abu Hazein places containers on her floor and uses a wiper to drive water outdoors. She borrowed blankets after her own became waterlogged. Mohammed Bardawil said wind and rain create hardship in both houses and tents.

These are immediate consequences, but the danger can also become structural. The Al-Saada building collapsed after earlier damage, killing 21 people. As winter approaches, families face repeated flooding, damaged belongings, and continued exposure unless shelter materials, repairs, or safer relocation become available.

The war created a shelter shortage by damaging large parts of Gaza and leaving families in cracked homes or tents. More than 4,000 buildings need full or partial demolition, while nearly 44,000 people remain inside buildings marked for demolition. Many families cannot afford even basic repair materials.

A June assessment found that 71% of families surveyed in damaged buildings could not pay for repairs. Emergency work also needs heavy machinery, fuel, rescue equipment, tents, and tarpaulins. Gaza’s Government Media Office cited shortages of machinery, funding, and safe land for its evacuation plan.

The shortage affects both immediate safety and longer-term rebuilding. The Shelter Cluster had received only 26% of its required funding by 18 September. Without materials and access, families may continue living in dangerous buildings or deteriorating tents through another rainy winter.

Delivery depends on Israeli authorities, including the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, or COGAT, while the UN and aid agencies coordinate requests and shelter operations. This control matters because families need timber, tarpaulins, tents, machinery, and repair materials before winter.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said Israeli authorities approved 36,960 pieces of timber and 660 emergency shelter kits in August. Entry was then blocked on 26 August and 2 September, followed by rejection of a renewed UN coordination request. COGAT later said heavy equipment and reconstruction materials would not enter before Hamas was disarmed.

COGAT accused Hamas of exploiting aid, a charge Hamas denies. These decisions delay repairs, emergency shelter, and dangerous-building evacuations. The article also records broader shortages, including limited funding, fuel, heavy machinery, and safe land, making blocked supplies even more consequential.

When permanent repairs or relocation are impossible, families use small measures to reduce immediate danger. They move bedding away from leaks, collect rainwater in containers, push water outside, borrow dry blankets, and reinforce tents with available materials. These actions provide temporary protection, not a lasting solution.

Ahmed al-Siqali spent about 1,200 shekels on timber beams and two tarpaulins to strengthen his tent. Mariam Abu Hazein borrowed blankets after hers became soaked. Gaza’s Government Media Office also announced plans to evacuate and demolish about 255 buildings at risk of collapse and provide temporary shelter.

Aid agencies are seeking tents, tarpaulins, rescue equipment, machinery, and fuel. A UN estimate counted about 17,000 shelter items across stocks and purchases, expected to support around 50,000 families. Yet blocked materials, funding gaps, and scarce safe land limit these alternatives.

Humanitarian access is the practical ability of aid agencies and emergency services to reach civilians, deliver supplies, and carry out protection work during war. It includes access for food, shelter materials, medical help, rescue equipment, fuel, and machinery. The source does not define the term directly; this explanation uses its established humanitarian meaning.

In Gaza, access matters because families need timber, tarpaulins, tents, and repair materials, while civil defence needs machinery and fuel. The UN requested rescue equipment and shelter supplies after the Al-Saada collapse. Some timber and shelter kits were approved but then blocked from entering.

Without reliable access, families may remain in dangerous buildings or exposed tents. Repairs and evacuations are delayed, and temporary shelter cannot reach people quickly. Longer-term rebuilding also depends on reconstruction materials, funding, safe land, and the ability of aid organisations to operate.