Gaza’s winter shelter crisis deepens as funding and material shortages leave millions exposed

International Organization for Migration estimates that roughly two million Gazans still require shelter assistance, with 1.8 to 1.9 million people counted as needing some form of aid. Funding that began to arrive in early 2026 has been described as too late and insufficient to meet that scale. As a result, only about 30 % of the Strip remains accessible for displaced families, and more than 4,000 buildings are reported to be at risk of collapse. The temporary tents that most households rely on typically survive only six months, leaving many exposed as winter rains begin.

IOM’s regional crisis coordinator, Karl Baker, notes that the ongoing regional conflict repeatedly disrupts trade routes used to bring shelter supplies into Gaza. Materials sourced from China, India and Pakistan must pass through Jordan, Egypt and Israel before reaching the Strip, and each crossing adds delays. In addition, Israel’s dual‑use restrictions, in place since 2008, block many durable items such as roofing sheets, cement and stronger wall components, classifying them as potential security risks. IOM reports daily negotiations with Israeli authorities in an effort to clarify concerns and secure entry for these essential goods.

With official aid lagging, families are turning to improvised solutions. In Khan Younis, displaced residents have begun filling former World Food Programme flour sacks with sand to create low‑tech flood barriers around their tents. In Rafah‑derived households, metal rods salvaged from collapsed structures are being used to reinforce canvas walls, a practice described as a “new experiment.” These measures aim to counteract the heavy rains already affecting the Strip and the heightened flood risk linked to an intensifying El Niño. While inventive, such stop‑gap fixes cannot replace the need for more durable, weather‑resistant shelter.