Living in makeshift tents, families in Gaza face relentless challenges. As they confront harsh weather and limited supplies, many are left vulnerable and without basic necessities.

The Struggles of Displaced Families in Gaza

The ongoing conflict has led to significant displacement, forcing families into makeshift tents with limited resources. Akim Shamali describes the continuous battle to keep rainwater out while managing 11 family members in a single room. With families being displaced multiple times and living in tents made of thin plastic, the struggle for survival becomes increasingly daunting.

Adverse Weather and Living Conditions

Living conditions along Gaza's coastline have become unbearable due to harsh weather. Families like Shamali's face tremendous challenges cooking outside, especially during strong winds that diminish their ability to create warmth and nourishment. Fear of violence at night also prevents families from lighting fires, leaving them in desperate situations.

Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

MJ Shawa highlights the grim reality that many families in Gaza endure. With freezing winter nights leading to tragic losses of life among children and the elderly, the situation is dire. As aid organizations report on the lack of essential supplies and medical care, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, demanding urgent international attention and intervention.

In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has escalated as families are displaced and forced to live in makeshift tents along the coastline. Akim Shamali, who lives with 11 family members in a single-room tent, shares the struggles they face while trying to keep the rainwater out. Despite their efforts to create barriers with sandbags and containers, the harsh weather makes it nearly impossible to stay dry. The family has been displaced 10 times since the onset of the ongoing conflict, attended by the eye of a relentless storm that does little to offer respite from their dire situation. The lack of adequate housing and resources has made survival a daunting task. The conditions inside these tents, made from mere sheets of plastic, provide little shelter against the wind and rain. Shamali notes that cooking outdoors becomes a challenge when gusty winds extinguish their fire, forcing them to wait for hours just to prepare a warm meal. Fear abounds not only from the elements but also from nearby Israeli warships, which adds to their hesitance to light fires at night. With past experiences of their tent being flooded by the sea, families have found no choice but to return to such brutal conditions. The United Nations highlights that nearly all residential structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by military actions, leaving families with scant options for shelter. MJ Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, emphasizes the suffering experienced by families throughout Gaza. Reports indicate that about 110,000 tents housing vulnerable populations agonize through freezing winter nights. Children, women, the elderly, and the afflicted struggle without essential supplies, including food and medications. The impact of malnutrition is growing as available resources dwindle. Shawa recounts tragic situations, mentioning the loss of six children due to hypothermia, a reflection of the severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by inadequate aid. Aid organizations like Oxfam have pointed out that Israeli authorities have significantly hindered the delivery of international support, exacerbating existing food and medical shortages. As the conflict continues, conditions in Gaza are rapidly deteriorating, with children bearing the brunt of the suffering. Many children, traumatized by conflict and displacement, face severe health risks owing to the lack of basic medical care and nutrition. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, leaving families fearing for their children's lives when seeking medical assistance. With an estimated 25,000 patients in urgent need of evacuation due to life-threatening health conditions, it’s clear that the ongoing humanitarian crises require immediate international intervention. Gazans are not only battling adverse conditions but also a systemic denial of aid and resources, a grave violation of human rights that cannot be overlooked.