The United Nations has warned that Palestinians remain without shelter in Gaza as aid delays drag on, even after Israel announced it would allow materials for tents and housing into the enclave. Humanitarian groups say displaced families are still living in the rubble of destroyed homes or in worn-out tents, and warn that further delays could cost more lives.
U.N. spokesperson Jens Laerke said, “The United Nations and our partners have…not been able to bring in shelter materials following the Israeli announcement. There’s a set of impediments that still needs to be addressed, including Israeli customs clearance.”
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Israel said last month it would start easing restrictions on shelter materials, but several aid groups, including CARE International, ShelterBox, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, report they have not been given authorisation to deliver supplies. They accuse Israeli authorities of using bureaucratic hurdles to block deliveries, leaving over 1.3 million Palestinians in desperate need of proper shelter.
One NGO told Reuters it has been “unable to deliver such supplies but was trying to get clearance.”
Gaza Aid Delays Drag On With Families in Tents
After nearly two years of war, most displaced Palestinians are crammed into makeshift tents or destroyed buildings. Many of these shelters are torn, unsafe, and unfit for human living.
“Life in the tent is no life at all…There’s no proper bathroom, not even a decent place to sit. We end up sitting in the street, suffocating in the heat,” said 55-year-old Ibrahim Tabassi in Khan Younis, who shares a single tent with nine family members.
Another resident, Sanaa Abu Jamous, said she has been using the same tattered tent since the war began. “My tent is extremely worn out,” she said.
Delays Drag On at Crossings
Israel has said materials will be allowed via the Kerem Shalom Crossing after inspections, but aid groups say very little has changed. The Red Cross confirmed it received permission through the Jordanian corridor, but warned that challenges remain.
The Norwegian Refugee Council applied to bring in 3,000 tents across Gaza, including to the north, but has received no reply. CARE International also said it had no confirmation that policy changes were in effect.
ShelterBox’s regional director Haroon Altaf warned, “If it’s only a handful of organisations that can bring shelter aid in, it doesn’t really change much and it’s deeply concerning. People are going to die because of it.”
Bottom Line
With more than 1.3 million people lacking tents or proper housing, international aid agencies say the Israeli government’s promises have not turned into real deliveries. As the war rages on, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, leaving ordinary Palestinians to suffer in the heat, the rubble, and the uncertainty of when, or if real shelter will come.
