One million Gazans living in tents amid summer heat: report
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As Gaza enters the sweltering summer months of 2026, approximately 170,000 households—equivalent to nearly one million people—are residing in tents and makeshift shelters, according to a recent report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which leads the Shelter Cluster in Palestine.
The NRC report, released on 18 June, highlights that ‘Israel’s’ destruction of homes and ongoing restrictions on shelter materials have trapped displaced families in conditions ill-suited for extreme heat.
Daytime temperatures are projected to reach 34.5°C, with an increase in days exceeding 35°C, exacerbating risks such as heat stress, dehydration, and disease.
An additional 5,000 households are sleeping outdoors, while 52,000 live in overcrowded shelters. Approximately 850,000 people lack essential emergency shelter items, including plastic sheeting, plywood, and rope.
These shortages stem from extensive damage to Gaza’s housing stock, with 76.6 percent of units—371,888 out of 485,361—destroyed or damaged as of October 2025, per UN assessments.
Jehan Salim, Shelter Cluster Coordinator, emphasized that families are enduring preventable hardships in shelters not designed for prolonged use.
“Simple measures such as shading, ventilation and basic shelter improvements can significantly reduce risks,” she stated, noting that such materials are often blocked from entering Gaza.
NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland described the situation as an outrage, urging ‘Israel’ to permit the entry of shelter supplies.
