Gaza's displaced endure harsh winter conditions

Gaza border [Israel], November 17: Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in makeshift shelters or tents in Gaza are now struggling to stay warm and dry as the winter season brings rain and flooding.
Tamara Alrifai, the director of communications and external relations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said the cold temperatures are adding another layer of vulnerability to civilians who have been displaced multiple times.
"What we heard over the last couple of days is that over 13,000 households were affected by the rain and the flooding. So over 13,000 families who live in either makeshift shelters or under tents have even lost that," Alrifai told Al Jazeera.
"People in Gaza are extremely vulnerable after two years of conflict, restrictions on humanitarian assistance, food, shelter, material, medicines, but also restrictions on commercial supplies going in even during the ceasefire", Alrifai said.
"People are hungry, people are traumatised. Most people have lost their homes", she said.
Since the start of the war, more than 80 percent of all buildings and housing units in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, UN data show.
Despite the ceasefire that was meant to unleash a flow of aid into Gaza, restrictions on trucks carrying food and other assistance, especially if linked to UNRWA, remain in place, Alrifai said.
"UNRWA is under double the amount of scrutiny and restrictions than other agencies despite being the largest agency there," Alrifai said, adding that the UN agency has enough supplies to fill 6,000 aid trucks from its warehouses in Egypt and Jordan.
On top of that, the limited number of crossings into Gaza means there are long queues of trucks waiting to enter.
There are also limitations on what is allowed into the enclave as the Israeli authorities label certain essentials as items of dual use, saying they could be used for military purposes, and therefore ban them, Alrifai said.
"Israel, during the inspection and the scrutiny, would take out many items that are extremely needed, especially in this winter situation."
Source: Qatar Tribune