Thousands in Gaza left exposed as tents prove inadequate

• Thousands of tents from China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia provide limited shelter to displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
• Recent storms damaged thousands of tents, affecting at least 235,000 people.

A new assessment of emergency shelters in Gaza reveals that thousands of tents supplied by China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia offer only limited protection from rain and wind, raising serious concerns about humanitarian aid quality.

The evaluation challenges claims that displaced Palestinians are receiving adequate shelter. In recent weeks, severe storms have damaged or destroyed thousands of tents, leaving at least 235,000 people exposed, according to The Guardian.

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The assessment was conducted by the Palestinian Shelter Cluster, which coordinates nearly 700 NGOs in the region and is led by the Norwegian Refugee Council. It concluded that many newly delivered tents, housing hundreds of thousands, “will likely need replacement”.

Flaws in Donated Tents

• Egyptian tents: Poor stitching, non-waterproof fabric, small windows, weak frames, no flooring, designs that trap water on roofs, and lack of venting.
• Saudi tents: Lightweight fabric, non-waterproof, and fragile structure.
• Chinese tents: Extremely light and non-waterproof.
• Qatar and UN tents: Met UN standards and were deemed reliable.

The evaluation drew on 9,000 social media survey responses in November, partner feedback on the ground, and community input, highlighting concerns over the quality of aid directly supplied by some countries.

Aid Shortfalls Continue

A humanitarian official noted that since the October ceasefire, only 20,000 of 90,000 planned tents have arrived through the UN or major international NGOs. Palestinians report that commercially sold tents in Gaza are unsuitable for winter and prohibitively expensive.

Read more: Storm leaves Gaza families exposed, woman killed

Many hoped the ceasefire would allow reconstruction, but the ongoing crisis and sector division have delayed rebuilding. According to the report, few families have resources to relocate, essential supplies remain scarce, and basic services are nearly absent.

Efforts to strengthen flood barriers are further hindered by 'Israeli' restrictions on heavy equipment, building materials, and sandbags.

The findings are expected to intensify scrutiny of international aid and raise urgent questions about the adequacy of temporary shelters in Gaza.