Since the fragile October ceasefire began as phase one of the US-led peace plan, thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands of tarpaulins have been distributed. 

Yet partners estimate that over one million people – around half of Gaza’s population – still urgently need shelter support. “The needs remain immense, and the harsh weather only deepens the suffering of families living in tents or war-damaged buildings,” said the UN Spokesperson’s Office on Friday.

Water, sanitation and hygiene services are also under pressure. Storms have damaged already shattered infrastructure, while fuel shortages and limited landfill access have left waste piling up. 

UNICEF-supported teams continue to remove around 1,000 tons of solid waste each month, helping protect children and families from health risks.

West Bank demolitions

In the West Bank, demolition of 25 buildings in Nur Shams refugee camp has displaced around 70 families. UN Palestine relief agency, UNRWA, continues to support those who have had to flee from Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams, covering rental costs for three months during the cold winter.

Humanitarian agencies continue to advocate for safe access and the entry of specialised equipment to maintain essential services, underscoring the critical role of UN and NGO partners in delivering life-saving assistance across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Lives at stake as Israeli curbs tighten: UNRWA chief

New Israeli restrictions on international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) risk further crippling humanitarian operations in Gaza at a moment of acute need, the head of the UN Palestine refugee relief agency warned Friday.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said the measures would reduce life-saving assistance for civilians already struggling to survive after months of conflict and deprivation.

In a social media statement on Friday, Mr. Lazzarini said he was echoing concerns raised by principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) – the forum that brings together heads of UN and non-UN humanitarian organisations.

Matter of survival

“New Israeli restrictions on international NGOs are further compromising the humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip,” he said, stressing that “people in Gaza need more aid, not less, simply to survive”.

He warned that the measures would also undermine efforts to assist communities affected by escalating violence in the West Bank, where humanitarian needs have surged alongside displacement and access constraints.

According to the IASC, the planned restrictions include new registration and operational requirements for international NGOs that would significantly limit their ability to deliver. 

Humanitarian leaders have urged Israeli authorities to revoke the measures, warning that they would severely disrupt aid delivery and contravene Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.

UNRWA targeted

Mr. Lazzarini said the latest steps follow the adoption of Israeli legislation targeting UNRWA, which has already had a chilling effect on humanitarian operations. Taken together, he said, they form “a troubling pattern” that risks setting a dangerous global precedent.

“Failing to push back against attempts to control the work of aid organisations will further undermine the basic humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity,” he said.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that access constraints, insecurity and bureaucratic impediments are preventing aid from reaching people in need across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

They say any further restrictions could have immediate and potentially fatal consequences for civilians who are dependent on humanitarian assistance.

UN officials and aid leaders continue to call for unimpeded humanitarian access, respect for international law and the protection of humanitarian personnel and operations.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain uprooted, many living in makeshift tents pitched on bare ground or squeezed into damaged buildings without reliable access to water, electricity, healthcare or sanitation.

Winter rains have compounded the hardship, flooding shelters and turning camp pathways into heavy mud.

Fragile hope

Yet, amid the destruction, displaced families say the arrival of a new year has stirred fragile hopes for stability, safety and a chance to rebuild lives interrupted by conflict.

Standing in front of her tent, Umm Rabee’ Al-Malash appealed for more international engagement.

“The Palestinian people must be supported, as they have endured immense suffering,” she told our correspondent. “Help us rebuild the Gaza Strip, bring about peace, and allow us to have a State where we can live in peace and security.”

Falling behind

For parents, the toll on children is among the deepest scars of the war. Schools across Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, while thousands of young people have missed out on months of learning.

Wafaa Al-Khawaja voiced her fears for the next generation. “I wish that, just as the rest of the world lives, we could live the same way. 

“Our children today have no education or anything else,” she said, describing days consumed by the struggle to find food, water and warmth.

In northern Gaza, displacement has cut off families from homes and livelihoods built over decades. 

Turn back the clock

Kamal Abu Hsheish, originally from the Jabalia camp, said his only wish is to return to the life he knew before the war. For now, daily reality inside the camps continues to impose severe humanitarian conditions on thousands of families.

Aid agencies warn that relief efforts face mounting challenges, including damaged infrastructure, restricted access and the sheer scale of need. 

Our children today have no education or anything else

Reconstruction, they say, will require sustained international commitment once conditions allow if the Gaza peace deal can advance to the next stage.

As Gaza’s displaced population marks the start of another year – with no return to their old life in sight – hopes remain bound to an end to violence and meaningful political progress on the 20-point plan which established the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in early October. 

Until then, families wait, enduring loss and uncertainty, while clinging to the belief that the coming months may finally bring safety, dignity and the possibility of going home to rebuild.