United Nations urges Israel to expedite critical aid for Gaza winter preparedness

United Nations Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has called on Israeli authorities to expedite the approval of critical supplies entering Gaza to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. With much of the population living in shelters, there is an urgent need for shelter kits, heaters, tents, and regular fuel shipments to establish thousands of heating points as temperatures drop.

Due to funding shortages, current procurement of tents, tarpaulins, and insulation kits is projected to support only 50,000 households. Additionally, existing stocks of winter clothing are estimated to be sufficient for only approximately 9,000 households. Dujarric emphasized the necessity of renewing worn shelters and clearing clogged drainage lines.

In the West Bank, Dujarric reported concerns regarding potential new displacements. He noted that Israeli authorities declared the Masafer Yatta area near Hebron a ‘firing zone,’ which may have contributed to one in five Palestinians in that area being displaced or affected by demolition activities in the last four weeks. UN humanitarian partners are monitoring the situation following the recent destruction of 35 homes and other structures.