Nearly one million people in Gaza still live in tents, new Norwegian report suggests

As Gaza enters the sweltering summer months, nearly one million civilians remain displaced and are living in tents or makeshift shelters, according to a new report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The dire situation is exacerbated by Israel's ongoing destruction of homes and restrictions on essential shelter materials, trapping families in dangerously hot conditions.

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as Gaza enters the sweltering summer months, Israel’s destruction of homes and restrictions on shelter materials have trapped displaced families in Gaza in dangerously hot tents and makeshift shelters, warns the Shelter Cluster in Palestine.

The NRC report, released on June 18, states that approximately 170,000 households, totaling around one million people, are living in tents. An additional 5,000 households sleep outdoors, and 52,000 live in overcrowded shelters. Crucially, 850,000 people lack emergency shelter items such as plastic sheeting, plywood, and rope. The report attributes this persistent shelter crisis not to weather, but to "destruction, displacement, and blocked relief."

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Summer heat will only sharpen the risks families face, with daytime temperatures reaching 34.5 °C in the warmest month and the number of hot days with temperature recording 35 °C or higher expected to increase.

Civilians in Gaza, who have endured 987 days of war, now face another summer of extreme heat. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach 34.5°C (94°F) in the warmest month, with an increasing number of days exceeding 35°C (95°F). This high heat poses a potentially deadly threat. Jehan Salim, a Shelter Cluster Coordinator, emphasized that simple measures like shading and ventilation could significantly improve living conditions but are unavailable or deliberately restricted from entering Gaza.

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Simple measures such as shading, ventilation, and basic shelter improvements can significantly reduce risks and improve living conditions, but this is currently not available inside of Gaza and deliberately not being allowed to enter.

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the NRC, called the situation an "outrage," stating, "It is an outrage that families in Gaza, after months of displacement and loss, now face summer heat in makeshift tents because Israel continues to restrict shelter materials." The report stresses the urgent need for better tents and materials, including shade nets and plastic sheeting, not to rebuild Gaza, but to provide basic protection against the elements and prevent the spread of disease.

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It is an outrage that families in Gaza, after months of displacement and loss, now face summer heat in makeshift tents because Israel continues to restrict shelter materials.