The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has sent more than 47,000 relief items to Gaza since the 10 October 2025 ceasefire, including 31,000 shelter materials such as 2,500 tents, to assist displaced families amid severe devastation. IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized the urgency of delivering aid swiftly and safely, highlighting that shelter is a basic necessity essential for families to rest, stay warm, and begin rebuilding their lives with dignity.
An estimated 90 per cent of Gaza’s population remains displaced, with around 1.5 million people in urgent need of emergency shelter. Many returning residents are finding their homes completely destroyed, forcing them to create makeshift shelters out of sacks and other limited materials. The humanitarian situation is dire as supplies run low and infrastructure remains in ruins.
To address immediate needs, IOM has prepositioned millions of relief items for rapid deployment, including more than 28,000 additional tents stored in Jordan, sufficient for up to 168,000 people. The agency has also prepared over 4.1 million winterization items—such as tarpaulins and solar lanterns—to improve living conditions for those in damaged or overcrowded shelters. However, ongoing restrictions on border access, customs delays, and security challenges continue to hamper aid delivery efforts.
Despite these barriers, IOM remains committed to providing life-saving assistance, calling for full, safe, and unrestricted humanitarian access in accordance with international humanitarian principles. After six months of blockade on shelter materials, the organization has resumed deliveries, though the scale of need remains immense. Among the most recent shipments, 2,500 tents funded by the European Union and Irish Aid are being distributed across Gaza to protect at least 15,000 displaced individuals from the worsening cold.
IOM continues to appeal for global support to sustain its emergency response and ensure that essential shelter, water, food, and medical aid reach all affected families across Gaza.
