Aid Agencies Suspend Gaza Supplies Due to Poor-Quality Tents, Critics Say.
Thousands of tents donated by China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations were intended to provide shelter for displaced Palestinians in Gaza. However, a recent assessment conducted by shelter specialists revealed that these tents offer only limited protection against rain and wind, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to the assessment, most of the tents are not designed or built to withstand harsh weather conditions, with poor-quality materials such as fabric that tears easily, weak structures, and no mesh for ventilation. This has resulted in thousands of people being affected by storms, which have blown down or damaged thousands of tents.
The World Palestine Shelter Cluster, which coordinated the activities of nearly 700 NGOs in Palestine, found that newly delivered tents would "likely need to be replaced." The assessment also highlighted concerns about the quality of aid supplied directly by individual countries, including Israel's attempts to bypass the UN and provide aid through commercial contractors.
A recent storm damaged thousands of tents, leaving at least 235,000 people without adequate shelter. The situation has been exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on heavy equipment, construction material, and sandbags, which hinder efforts to reinforce flood defences.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, with many residents living in temporary shelters that are not designed for winter conditions. People are struggling to cope with the lack of warm clothing, blankets, and essential items, making life extremely difficult during the cold winter months.
In 2023, Hamas militants killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 250 in an attack on Israel. The ensuing Israeli offensive killed around 70,000 people, mostly civilians. Since the ceasefire, another 414 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian officials.
The aid community is concerned about the consequences of the new system being implemented by Israel's Cogat agency, which aims to streamline humanitarian assistance and prevent it from being used by Hamas. Critics say this approach will be "catastrophic" for the already dire situation in Gaza.
Many Gazans, like Jawaher Abd Rabbo, a young mother who lost her home during the war, are struggling to survive in temporary shelters that offer little protection against the elements. Rabbo's story highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the need for effective humanitarian assistance that addresses the root causes of the crisis.
As hopes for rapid progress towards a second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire fade, analysts say neither Hamas nor Israel has much incentive to make immediate concessions. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with many residents facing severe hardship during the winter months due to inadequate shelter and limited access to essential items.
Thousands of tents donated by China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations were intended to provide shelter for displaced Palestinians in Gaza. However, a recent assessment conducted by shelter specialists revealed that these tents offer only limited protection against rain and wind, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to the assessment, most of the tents are not designed or built to withstand harsh weather conditions, with poor-quality materials such as fabric that tears easily, weak structures, and no mesh for ventilation. This has resulted in thousands of people being affected by storms, which have blown down or damaged thousands of tents.
The World Palestine Shelter Cluster, which coordinated the activities of nearly 700 NGOs in Palestine, found that newly delivered tents would "likely need to be replaced." The assessment also highlighted concerns about the quality of aid supplied directly by individual countries, including Israel's attempts to bypass the UN and provide aid through commercial contractors.
A recent storm damaged thousands of tents, leaving at least 235,000 people without adequate shelter. The situation has been exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on heavy equipment, construction material, and sandbags, which hinder efforts to reinforce flood defences.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, with many residents living in temporary shelters that are not designed for winter conditions. People are struggling to cope with the lack of warm clothing, blankets, and essential items, making life extremely difficult during the cold winter months.
In 2023, Hamas militants killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 250 in an attack on Israel. The ensuing Israeli offensive killed around 70,000 people, mostly civilians. Since the ceasefire, another 414 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian officials.
The aid community is concerned about the consequences of the new system being implemented by Israel's Cogat agency, which aims to streamline humanitarian assistance and prevent it from being used by Hamas. Critics say this approach will be "catastrophic" for the already dire situation in Gaza.
Many Gazans, like Jawaher Abd Rabbo, a young mother who lost her home during the war, are struggling to survive in temporary shelters that offer little protection against the elements. Rabbo's story highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the need for effective humanitarian assistance that addresses the root causes of the crisis.
As hopes for rapid progress towards a second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire fade, analysts say neither Hamas nor Israel has much incentive to make immediate concessions. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with many residents facing severe hardship during the winter months due to inadequate shelter and limited access to essential items.
This whole thing is just a perfect example of how governments can screw up even the best intentions 
. I mean, who don't design tents for harsh weather conditions? It's like they're not even trying 
. And now, we got 235,000 people living in temporary shelters that are meant to last only a few months 
. Meanwhile, Israel is still restricting access to heavy equipment and construction materials, making it almost impossible for NGOs to rebuild 
.
. The fact that critics are calling it "catastrophic" for the situation in Gaza is pretty telling 
.
. But until then, we're just gonna keep seeing this cycle of suffering and neglect 
. Time to get serious about finding a solution that doesn't involve more tent-pulling 
!
. And let's be real, Israel trying to control the flow of aid is just gonna make things worse - all it does is starve more people and keep them in a cycle of poverty.
! I can only imagine how scary it must be for people like Jawaher Abd Rabbo who's struggling to survive in those temporary shelters. It's not just the lack of warm clothing and blankets that's a problem, but also the fact that they're exposed to harsh weather conditions without any protection 
.
. It's just another example of how the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is being exacerbated by a system that's supposed to be helping people, but instead is making things worse.
Like, what's going on here? Poor-quality stuff that can't even withstand some rain? It's like they're not even trying. And now Gaza is paying the price with 235,000 people left without shelter... 
That's just heartbreaking. I feel for Jawaher Abd Rabbo and all these others who are struggling to survive in temporary shelters. It's just not right.
. Thousands of tents were donated by rich countries, but they're not even suitable for harsh weather conditions 
. The fact that 235,000 people are left without adequate shelter is just heartbreaking 
. We need to do something about this ASAP 
The situation's still dire, with many residents living in temporary shelters that aren't designed for winter conditions 
. And now, another 414 Palestinians have lost their lives since the ceasefire 
. We need more effective humanitarian assistance that actually helps people, not just talks about it 
.
, i mean can't we get that part right for once?! 
it's like, how can u donate aid and expect it 2 work with such poor quality? and whats up wit all these restrictions from israel? it's not fair 2 the ppl who r already sufferin so much 
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. The fact that some of those tents were even damaged by a storm is just crazy! It's like, how do you expect people to survive when they don't have decent protection from the elements? 
. I think we should be doing more to help those in need, you know? Maybe there are some DIY solutions that could make a difference, like building some proper shelters or creating a system for distributing warm clothes and blankets to people who really need them 
.
It's crazy that the aid community is saying some of these tents are literally gonna need to be replaced after just a storm 