“We continue to provide a response, but the needs exceed the speed with which we can respond.” he said, pointing to the limited volume of supplies entering the Strip and a growing list of items that Israeli authorities continue to block, including heavy machinery, equipment and spare parts needed to repair damaged infrastructure.
With repeated storms flooding large areas in recent weeks, humanitarian agencies have prioritized emergency winter preparedness. It is estimated that 1.3 million people currently need accommodation attendance.
“When the storms came, many people lost everything – everything they had was taken away,” Ms. Cherevko said.
Tents, tarps and bedding.
In recent days, aid teams have distributed around 3,800 tents, more than 4,500 tarps and thousands of bedding items, helping around 4,800 families.
The response has included plastic sheeting, kitchen utensils and short-term food assistance to help families survive in the immediate aftermath of the floods.
Local authorities have identified some of the most flood-prone locations as unsafe, prompting several hundred families to voluntarily relocate. The UN and its partners have supported these measures by preparing and leveling sites and installing tents to ensure minimum conditions of safety and dignity.
Increased risk of hypothermia
Winter conditions continue to pose serious health risks, especially for babies. “Hypothermia risks increase and babies are at very high risk”Ms. Cherevko warned.
UN partners are also raising awareness among caregivers, including guidance on body-to-body contact to help keep young children warm.
Beyond shelter, humanitarian operations include food assistance, nutritional screening, health service points, and the gradual reopening of learning facilities. In the last few days, 13 additional temporary learning spaces have reopenedproviding access to education for around 5,000 children.
However, important limitations remain. Inside Gaza, the number of routes available to transport aid remains limited, as do the crossings through which supplies can enter.
Crossing delays
“There are many cases where humanitarian cargo is deprioritized and given priority to the commercial sector,” Cherevko said, noting that this causes delays that directly affect the speed of aid delivery.
Other challenges include inconsistent opening and loading times at crossings, restrictions on critical items, and registration requirements that prevent non-governmental organizations from bringing supplies into Gaza.
“All these impediments must be eliminated,” he stressed. “We have the ability to respond, but we are limited at a time when people’s needs are increasing faster than we can meet them.”
UNICEF is distributing winter clothing kits to children across the Gaza Strip, as winter storms compound hardships for families.