Palestinian foreign ministry urges urgent global action to avert Gaza humanitarian disaster as winter sets in

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has called on the international community, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and international humanitarian and relief organizations to take immediate and coordinated action to save the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and address the worsening humanitarian and environmental catastrophe as winter arrives, warning that further delays could lead to more casualties, especially among children, the elderly, and the sick.

In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said that the ongoing genocide and Israeli aggression against Gaza have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and hindered early recovery efforts. It noted that the first rains in recent hours have revealed the extent of suffering faced by forcibly displaced people in the Strip.

The ministry explained that around two million people are living in harsh humanitarian conditions, spread across nearly 270,000 tents and shelters throughout Gaza. Estimates indicate that between 60% and 85% of tents are now worn out and unfit for use after nearly three years of ongoing destruction and forced displacement. It added that more than 400,000 displaced people are living in extremely dangerous areas prone to flooding and rainwater accumulation, or located near the seashore.

The ministry stressed that risks are increasing due to the widespread destruction of infrastructure, especially sewage and rainwater drainage networks. Children, the elderly, and the sick lack winter clothing, blankets, mattresses, and safe heating, amid power outages and fuel shortages, making exposure to cold and rain a direct threat to their lives.

It emphasized that what is needed now goes beyond issuing humanitarian appeals, calling for the immediate implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 2720 and 2803, and for practical and tangible measures to confront Israeli occupation crimes.

The ministry called for immediate pressure on Israel, as the occupying power, to open all crossings and ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid in quantities that meet the massive needs of the population, and to guarantee its delivery to all areas of Gaza.

The Palestinian foreign ministry also urged the urgent entry of fuel and equipment needed to operate water and sewage pumps, remove rainwater and wastewater accumulations, and implement emergency interventions to protect camps and displacement sites from flooding.

It called for immediate provision of winter shelter needs, including the entry of temporary housing, rain- and wind-resistant tents, plastic sheeting, waterproof and thermal insulation, as well as materials and equipment to repair damaged and unsafe homes.

The ministry also called for the delivery of winter clothing, blankets, mattresses, and safe heating to those affected, especially children, infants, the elderly, and the sick, to prevent deaths from severe cold.

It further called for an urgent health and preventive response, including the provision of medicines, medical supplies, clean water, and disinfectants, as well as strengthening healthcare services and combating diseases and epidemics linked to water contamination and deteriorating environmental conditions.

The ministry stressed the need to mobilize and bring in the necessary logistical and technical equipment to support municipalities, relevant authorities, and civil defense and relief teams, enabling them to carry out urgent interventions to protect civilians and displacement sites.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed that the international community, with its states and institutions, possesses the tools and capabilities to respond and put pressure on Israel to activate them without delay, ensuring the delivery of aid and humanitarian supplies and preventing the continued deprivation of the Palestinian people from the most basic necessities of life and protection.

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