International Migration: Restrictions Prevent Life-Saving Shelter Aid from Reaching Gaza

SadaNews - The spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration, Afand Aziz Agha, stated that life-saving shelter aid is not reaching people in Gaza on a large scale due to the lack of urgent access and the restrictions imposed on the region.

This statement was made by Agha alongside the spokesperson for the World Health Organization, Tarik Yasarivich, during the weekly press conference of the United Nations Office in Geneva on Friday.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel does not allow tents and shelter materials to enter the Gaza Strip, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to live in dilapidated and primitive tents at a time when the region is experiencing cold weather and severe storms.

Agha added that Gaza is currently witnessing storms and heavy rains due to the winter season, and that the organization's partners are intervening to address the situation.

He mentioned that "without urgent and unrestricted access, life-saving shelter aid cannot reach people on a large scale; therefore, we continue to call for unobstructed access to ensure these needs are met".

He added, "As we have seen in the past few days and weeks, with the heavy rains, the need for high-quality emergency shelter has become more urgent than ever".

In response to a question about the number of those who have lost their lives this year in Gaza due to the recent cold waves, Yasarivich stated that he does not have precise figures on this matter.

Yasarivich added: "The residents of Gaza need improvements in conditions to ensure access to clean water, sanitation services, and toilets, in addition to protecting them from living in cold conditions".

He continued: "All these factors, along with flooding, cold, and rain, currently lead to increased exposure to illnesses and put people at greater risk".

Officials in Gaza are calling for the expedited delivery of mobile homes (caravans) and heavy equipment necessary for the region.

Israel is also preventing the entry of sufficient food, medicine, and medical supplies into Gaza, where approximately 2.4 million Palestinians are living in catastrophic inhumane conditions.

Warnings are escalating after thousands of displaced people’s tents have submerged, and there is a risk of collapsing buildings due to the war waged by Tel Aviv over the past two years, which began on October 8, 2023, resulting in more than 70,000 martyrs and over 171,000 injured.

It was supposed that the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10 would end the genocide, but Israel continues its violations, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian civilians being killed and injured, in addition to violating the humanitarian protocol related to aid and shelter supplies.