Humanitarians deliver critical shelter support in Gaza, despite ongoing challenges

26 November 2025

OCHA says that despite the ceasefire, hostilities continue in parts of Gaza – resulting in reported casualties and disruptions to aid operations.

Humanitarians continue to deliver critical support, despite ongoing impediments to the aid scale-up in Gaza. On Monday, just before yesterday’s heavy rains, partners distributed 500 tents across three displacement sites in Khan Younis. And on Sunday and Monday, they distributed more than 4,000 tarpaulin sheets to over 1,300 households in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, along with kitchen sets, ropes and blankets. However, given the scale of the needs, much more is required.

Once again, OCHA calls for unimpeded humanitarian access so that teams can reach everyone in need of support. The UN and its partners can do much more as soon as restrictions on relief items and aid groups, including non-governmental organizations, are lifted.

Yesterday, the UN and its partners coordinated eight humanitarian movements inside Gaza with the Israeli authorities. While one movement was facilitated, the seven others were either impeded, denied or cancelled.

Despite these challenges, humanitarians collected more than 200 pallets of medicine and five tankers of fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing – as well as more tents from Kissufim.

On Monday, teams from the World Health Organization (WHO) facilitated the medical evacuation of 33 critical patients and over 100 companions. However, there are still more than 16,500 patients who need to receive medical care outside of Gaza. WHO calls for them to be able to do so through all evacuation routes, particularly to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – and for the movement of medical evacuation convoys to be expedited at crossings. The agency also urges more countries to receive patients and help ensure access to the specialized care they need.

OCHA notes that not a single hospital in Gaza is fully functional. Only half of the hospitals in Gaza – 18 out of 36 – are functional, and only partially.

UNRWA continues to provide learning activities. As of Sunday, the agency is running nearly 350 temporary learning spaces across 64 shelters, providing in-person learning for more than 47,000 boys and girls.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Israeli forces have launched an operation in the Tubas governorate. OCHA says that a curfew has been imposed in the area, and forces are carrying out search-and-arrest operations. More than two dozen families were forced to evacuate as Israeli troops took over their homes. Today, thousands of residents could not reach essential services such as health and education.

OCHA reiterates that according to international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected, and their essential needs must be met.