Winterization Plans in Gaza

It rained in Gaza yesterday. You may ask why this is news. The answer is that rain in Gaza brings a new set of life-threatening challenges for the nearly two million displaced people there who are living in makeshift shelters, tents or damaged buildings. For displaced people in Gaza, rain is not just a natural occurrence. It’s a reminder of how precarious and fragile their lives have become. It’s also a reminder of just how much worse the conditions are for many in Gaza since the last winter

Our Gaza staff are expressing deep concerns about the harsh(er) conditions families will soon face. Below are some of the looming dangers.

Flooded Shelters and Camps

Most displaced families are living in overcrowded camps or makeshift shelters, where the infrastructure is not equipped to handle rain. Tents and temporary shelters become waterlogged fast and, without proper drainage systems, entire areas easily flood, leaving families exposed to the cold and wet.

Lack of Protection from the Elements

Items like tarps, plastic sheeting, and insulation materials are generally not available in Gaza. When it rains, water leaks into tents, soaking bedding and personal belongings. Families are left struggling to keep warm and dry in cold, damp conditions. Their makeshift homes simply cannot provide the necessary protection from winter conditions.

Increased Health Risks

Living in waterlogged conditions significantly heightens the risk of waterborne diseases and respiratory infections. Without adequate shelter, warm clothing, or sufficient blankets, displaced people – especially the elderly and children – are more susceptible to hypothermia and illnesses like pneumonia, flu, and other cold-related ailments. And standing water can create unsanitary conditions that exacerbate existing health challenges. In cold conditions, people are also forced to create warmth in unsafe conditions, like starting fires close to or inside tents. This increases the risk of burns and other unsafe conditions.

Unstable Ground and Safety Hazards

Heavy rain can destabilize the already fragile ground in tent camps and informal settlements, leading to the collapse of tents or flooding of makeshift drainage systems. The terrain, often uneven and covered with debris, becomes muddy and hazardous, making movement difficult. Many people in Gaza are walking barefoot or with inadequate shoes and they are especially vulnerable to injury.

Increased Mental and Emotional Strain

The constant threat of rain and flooding adds to the emotional toll on displaced people. Living in these conditions day after day, without a sense of security or comfort, leads to heightened stress, anxiety, and trauma, particularly for children and those who have already endured the horrors of conflict.

Responding to Winterization Needs in Gaza

Anera is working urgently to meet the critical needs of displaced families in Gaza who are soon going to face extreme cold and flooding in their makeshift shelters.

Shelter Improvements

Anera is providing tarps to prevent rainwater from seeping into the tents and distributing insulation materials, such as inner linings for tents, to protect families from the ice-cold winds that sweep through the camps. Families are currently using their blankets to cover their tents, leaving them without enough warmth inside.

Essential Winter Items

There is an urgent need for warm clothing and bedding. Anera is stepping in to distribute winter clothing, including jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, and thermal tracksuits that families can wear to sleep. Shoes and boots are also a critical need, as many people are walking barefoot or with worn-out shoes that offer no protection from the cold, wet ground.

To ensure families can sleep comfortably and stay warm, Anera is providing comprehensive winterization tent kits, which include thermal sleeping pads, additional blankets, and inner tent linings for extra insulation.

Sustaining Water Access During Winter

The burden of maintaining a steady water supply during winter is immense and vital to keeping people healthy. Anera has for months been providing water for between 20,000 and 30,000 people at communal locations across Gaza. This is an essential service that we must sustain so families can stay hydrated and clean during winter.

You Can Help!

Anera’s donor community is committed to ensuring that families in Gaza are not left to face the harsh winter alone. Through your support, we can provide the necessary materials and services to help them survive these difficult months.

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