More than 150,000 tents are stuck outside the Gaza Strip. The United Nations is waiting for permission from Israeli authorities to bring them across the border.
Farhan Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson, told reporters that the total includes 117,000 tents provided by the Egyptian Relief Committee stationed in El Arish.
Haq said transport funding is a hurdle, but securing clearances is the main obstacle. When asked what is required to move the shelters into the enclave, he said the organisation needs Israeli authorities to cooperate so the tents can be brought in.
The speed of delivery depends entirely on border access and clearance procedures. The supplies sit on the other side of the frontier, and teams stand ready to move them immediately.
Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, criticised arguments that political transitions justify blocking vital supplies. He stated that waiting for a new Israeli government to form is not an acceptable excuse for delays in delivering essential winter aid.
International partners have cited elections and government formation as reasons for slow progress. Fletcher stressed that under international humanitarian law, such political delays are unjustified.
The UN humanitarian plan calls for durable shelter, warm clothing, blankets, bedding, and safe heating solutions. It also includes generators, fuel, engine oil, spare parts, and equipment required to pump water, remove debris, and clear explosive ordnance.
Fletcher called for immediate action to open all border crossings rather than just a single entry point. He demanded an end to collective punishment, urging authorities to let NGO partners work, allow commercial markets to function, and fund the relief plan.
Recent weekend flooding is worsening a sanitation crisis driven by the conflict. Citing UNICEF figures, Haq confirmed that not a single wastewater treatment plant in Gaza currently functions.
In Gaza City, rainwater mixed with sewage threatens to overflow the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin. Only two of the six pumps at the facility remain operational.
UNICEF has sought approval from Israeli authorities for over a year to import equipment required to repair the facility. Haq said humanitarian funding and official approvals are urgently needed to bring adequate supplies and machinery into the territory.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,600 Palestinians and wounded nearly 176,000 since October 2023. Women and children make up the majority of casualties, and 90 percent of the regional infrastructure has been destroyed.
