Winter rains have come to Gaza, compounding the misery of the two million or so people displaced into tents by Israel’s war of genocide. Red Cross spokesperon Amani Al Naouq told Al Jazeera that she has seen footage of “entire families, entire camps” inundated with water and scrambling to drain their tents and protect their belongings and lives, reported Middle East Eye. Israel has continued to tightly restrict the entry of aid into the territory, with shelter items- including tent poles, construction materials and mobile homes- almost completely barred as the Israeli authorities consider them “dual use” items.

Gaza’s emergency committee said more than one million displaced people face winter-related risks and that the territory needs about 200,000 tents, as well as heating supplies, Al Jazeera reported.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), in a report published on 5 November, said people in Gaza still needed approximately 121,000 tents and 561,000 tarpaulins as of 1 November. It said available stocks included about 2,800 tents and 76,000 tarpaulins, while no emergency shelter kits were available. Ocha said the entry of timber needed for shelter kits continued to be rejected by Israeli authorities.