Ramallah:Around 2.1 million people in the Gaza Strip are in dire need of protection and humanitarian assistance during the harsh winter months, facing ongoing displacement and worsening living conditions due to Israeli restrictions on relief supplies, a Palestinian minister announced.

According to Anadolu Agency, Social Development Minister Samah Hamad highlighted these concerns at a news conference held at the Government Communication Center in Ramallah, located in the central occupied West Bank. She emphasized the severe impact of Israeli measures, which have left approximately 30% of relief and shelter supplies stranded at border crossings, obstructing their delivery to Gaza.

Hamad detailed the displacement crisis, noting that over 1.76 million individuals, or 84% of Gaza's population, are residing in overcrowded displacement sites. She revealed that more than 65% of families are currently living in tents and temporary shelters, with over 370,000 housing units either damaged or destroyed. Additionally, more than 300,000 families lack adequate protection against cold weather and rainfall.

The minister further reported a critical need for 200,000 tents and 200,000 tarpaulins to meet the shelter requirements in Gaza. She also noted that the area has seen 19 deaths related to hypothermia over the past two years and warned of increasing risks of flooding and rainwater accumulation at over 1,600 displacement sites. Alarmingly, 80% of Gaza's water infrastructure is in need of repair.

The dire situation is exacerbated by ongoing violence, with the Israeli army reportedly killing more than 74,000 people and injuring over 175,000 since October 2023, leaving the territory devastated.