UN warns of looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza as winter approaches

Tuesday 08 - 15:15

By: Azzat Manal

UN warns of looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza as winter approaches

The United Nations is stepping up efforts to prevent another severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the winter season approaches, with aid agencies warning that vulnerable families face worsening conditions in damaged shelters, overcrowded areas and locations exposed to flooding.

Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the organization was working to avert a potentially devastating winter emergency in the Gaza Strip. In a message posted on X, he highlighted the difficult conditions facing families living in fragile shelters while disease outbreaks and overcrowding continue to pose serious risks.

Fletcher called for increased funding for the humanitarian response, greater access for essential supplies and authorization for critical equipment to enter the territory. He also urged the implementation of the peace agreement, stressing that humanitarian agencies need reliable access to affected communities to provide assistance on the necessary scale.

The UN official has previously described winter as an especially dangerous period for people living through prolonged conflict. Gaza’s population remains heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance, while many families continue to live in temporary or damaged shelters that provide limited protection against cold weather and heavy rainfall.

Humanitarian organizations have been working to distribute tents, heating equipment, food and other essential supplies, but the scale of the needs remains considerable. Children and other vulnerable groups are particularly exposed to the consequences of inadequate shelter and harsh weather conditions.

The UN’s wider humanitarian response plan for 2026 includes major efforts to assist millions of people affected by conflicts and other emergencies around the world. Gaza remains one of the key areas of concern, with humanitarian organizations seeking additional funding and improved access to deliver aid.

Fletcher has also said that the UN and its humanitarian partners have the capacity and expertise to expand assistance in Gaza if the necessary access is provided. According to the UN official, large quantities of humanitarian supplies are ready to be deployed, but their delivery depends on securing safe and sustained access.

The warning comes as Egyptian officials have called for stronger international pressure to remove obstacles affecting the entry of humanitarian, medical and relief supplies into Gaza. The issue has become particularly urgent ahead of winter, after temporary shelters and other displaced-person sites were severely affected by flooding during previous periods of heavy rainfall.

UN assessments indicate that more than one million people in Gaza still urgently require adequate shelter. For many displaced families, the arrival of winter could therefore add another layer of hardship to an already critical humanitarian situation.

The United Nations is consequently urging governments and international donors to strengthen funding while calling for greater access for relief operations. For humanitarian agencies on the ground, preventing a winter emergency will depend not only on the availability of aid but also on their ability to deliver it safely and consistently to those who need it most.