Introduction
The winter shelter crisis in Gaza has pushed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to rebuild from ruins using whatever materials they can salvage. In the absence of sufficient construction supplies and heavy machinery, many families rely on twisted iron rods recovered from collapsed buildings to erect basic frames for tents, tarpaulins, and makeshift rooms.
As of early 2024, vast areas of the Gaza Strip remain devastated, with large volumes of rubble, limited access to aid, and recurring winter storms that flood informal camps. This article examines how salvaged iron rods are being used, the technical and safety constraints of such shelter solutions, and the wider reconstruction and debris management challenges in Gaza.
TL;DR: Gaza faces a severe winter shelter crisis. Families salvage iron rods from rubble to build basic shelters, but face major constraints: massive destruction, limited aid, hazardous debris, and serious structural and health risks.
Life Among the Ruins
Across Gaza, men, teenagers, and older adults chip away at shattered buildings. Using shovels, pickaxes, and basic hammers, they work for hours to free steel reinforcing bars (rebar) embedded deep in thick concrete.
“I don’t have money to buy wood. I had to extract this iron from the house,” said 53‑year‑old father of six, Wael al‑Jabra, as he hammered together a tent frame. “This house sheltered us. Now we only have God and these walls.”
One Palestinian worker breaks concrete by hand to extract steel bars from destroyed homes, a task made harder by a severe shortage of construction materials. Long‑standing Israeli restrictions on the entry of cement, iron, and other building supplies—many classified as “dual‑use” items that could potentially be repurposed for military purposes—have left many in Khan Younis and across the Gaza Strip dependent on what they can salvage from debris.
For many families, this labor is about survival with some measure of dignity. “We do this to feed ourselves and cover living expenses. We earn through halal means – through our own hands,” said 29‑year‑old worker, Haitham Arbiea.
TL;DR: With new materials tightly restricted, residents break concrete by hand to recover rebar from destroyed homes, using it to build or reinforce basic shelters and to generate minimal income.
Scale of Destruction and Rubble
Israel’s military operations, launched after the Hamas‑led attacks of 7 October 2023, have caused extensive destruction across Gaza. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 37,000 Palestinians had been killed as of early July 2024, with women and children comprising a large share of the reported fatalities. This figure is cited by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which notes that casualty numbers are difficult to independently verify in an active conflict zone. Some local sources and analysts have put forward higher estimates; these remain contested and should be treated as provisional.
The physical destruction has been equally severe. A 2024 assessment by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners estimates that the war has generated on the order of 37–60 million tonnes of debris, depending on methodology and the areas included. Much of this rubble is laced with iron rods that now serve as crucial tools for improvised rebuilding and survival.
UNDP has indicated that, even under ideal conditions with sufficient equipment and access, clearing Gaza’s debris could take up to seven years. Given ongoing fuel shortages, limited heavy machinery, and access restrictions, many experts anticipate that reconstruction and debris management in Gaza will extend far beyond that timeframe.
“You clean a house in exchange for iron. Sometimes it takes a week or more just to pry it out,” said 19‑year‑old Suleiman al‑Arja. “We pass by destroyed homes, agree with owners, and start breaking the iron. It’s backbreaking work.”
TL;DR: UNDP and other UN agencies estimate tens of millions of tonnes of debris in Gaza, with cleanup likely to take many years. Rebar embedded in this rubble has become both a survival resource and a major obstacle to organized reconstruction.
Iron Rods as a Lifeline
Iron rods—commonly used as reinforcing steel bars, or rebar—have become scarce and costly. A single 10‑meter bar can cost around US$15, an enormous sum for families living hand‑to‑mouth in a collapsed economy. In typical residential construction in Gaza before the war, rebar diameters often ranged from about 8 millimeters (mm) to 16 mm for slabs and beams and up to 20–25 mm for columns and heavily loaded elements.
In small makeshift workshops, Palestinian workers attempt to reshape and straighten recovered steel bars using basic tools. With cement and iron heavily restricted, salvaged metal often provides the only practical material to build tent frames, reinforce damaged walls, or craft basic supports for tarpaulins and plastic sheeting.
Israel tightly controls the entry of construction materials into Gaza, classifying many items as dual‑use that require specific approvals. As a result, shipments of cement, iron, and heavy equipment are limited or delayed, frequently depending on broader political negotiations or phases of international reconstruction plans.
For displaced families, these policy and security calculations translate into a simple reality: they must rely on whatever can be pulled from the rubble to create the most basic shelter.
TL;DR: Salvaged rebar—often 8–25 mm in diameter—has become a critical lifeline. High prices and import controls mean these recovered rods are often the only available material for frames and basic structural support.
Technical Conditions of Salvaged Iron Rods
Salvaged rebar is usually extracted from heavily damaged or collapsed structures. Technically, these rods often present several issues:
- Bending and deformation: Many bars are kinked, twisted, or partially buckled from building collapse. Workers heat or hammer them to straighten, which can reduce strength and reliability.
- Corrosion: Once exposed to air, salt‑laden coastal humidity, and standing water, the steel quickly develops surface rust. In severe cases, pitting corrosion can reduce cross‑sectional area and load‑carrying capacity.
- Fatigue and micro‑cracking: Impact during bombardment and manual straightening can introduce micro‑cracks, making the steel more brittle and less predictable under load.
Because of these factors, engineers generally consider heavily corroded or severely bent rebar unsuitable for use in new, permanent load‑bearing structural elements. In Gaza’s current emergency conditions, however, this steel is still widely used to assemble light frames for tarpaulins, small sheds, and bracing for partially collapsed masonry—applications where loads are lower and safety margins can be somewhat managed.
TL;DR: Recovered rods are often bent, rusted, and structurally compromised. While not ideal for permanent buildings, they are still used for light frames and temporary structures because there are few alternatives.
Safety Concerns When Reusing Salvaged Rebar
Reusing salvaged rebar in conflict zones raises significant safety concerns, especially when used in load‑bearing structures:
- Uncertain strength: Without testing, it is difficult to know whether the steel still meets any recognizable standard for yield strength or ductility.
- Rust and bond loss: Rust reduces the effective cross‑section of the bar and weakens the bond between steel and concrete or mortar, increasing the risk of cracking and collapse.
- Improvised connections: Many shelters use improvised tying or welding methods that can fail under wind loads or when fabric gets saturated with water and becomes heavier.
Under such constraints, some humanitarian agencies and local engineers recommend minimal best practices for emergency use:
- Prefer relatively straight bars with only light surface rust, avoiding those with deep pitting or obvious cracks.
- Use salvaged rebar mainly for non‑permanent or non‑load‑bearing elements (tent frames, small sheds, fences) rather than for multi‑storey structures.
- Add cross‑bracing to simple frames to resist wind and reduce the risk of progressive collapse.
- Ensure that children’s sleeping areas are not located directly under heavily loaded, improvised beams or roofs.
These recommendations cannot fully eliminate risk, but they can help residents and NGOs make safer choices within a highly constrained environment.
TL;DR: Salvaged rebar should generally be limited to light, temporary structures. When it is used, choosing less‑damaged bars, adding bracing, and avoiding heavy loads can reduce—but not remove—safety risks.
Winter Rains Deepen the Humanitarian Crisis
Winter rains have substantially worsened living conditions in Gaza’s tent camps and makeshift shelters. Torrential downpours flood low‑lying camps, submerging bedding, food, and personal belongings in dirty, cold water. In many areas, streets turn into mud‑filled channels where open sewage mixes with floodwater, exposing residents to contamination.
Damp, unheated shelters, combined with limited sanitation, provide ideal conditions for respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, and skin conditions—especially among children, older adults, and people with pre‑existing health issues. Local clinics and humanitarian agencies report cases of hypothermia, particularly among infants and older adults who lack adequate clothing and blankets.
“We urgently need to rebuild Gaza. We cannot imagine living in these tattered tents for years,” said 33‑year‑old Amal Shabat, who shelters five family members in a partially collapsed building that offers only limited protection from wind and rain.
TL;DR: Winter storms turn informal camps into flooded, contaminated environments, driving up risks of hypothermia and disease and compounding the shelter crisis.
Families on the Edge of Survival
Families recount nights of fear as storms batter their fragile shelters. Aliaa Bahtiti described how her 8‑year‑old son was soaked through overnight, waking up “blue from cold.”
In another tent, Baraka Bhar tries to keep her 3‑month‑old twins warm under a leaking roof. One of the infants has hydrocephalus—a condition where fluid builds up in the brain—making even minor respiratory illnesses particularly dangerous. “Our tents are worn out. We should not lose our children this winter,” she said.
Older adults, people with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses are especially at risk in these conditions. They often endure overcrowded tents, poor access to medication, and limited sanitation, which heighten their exposure to infections and respiratory diseases.
Despite these challenges, many families work continuously to keep their spaces as clean and dry as possible—repositioning tarpaulins, scooping out standing water, and reinforcing tent frames with salvaged iron whenever they can.
TL;DR: Families—especially those with young children, older adults, or disabilities—face extreme cold and health risks in overcrowded, leaking shelters, yet continue daily efforts to maintain basic safety and dignity.
Reconstruction and Debris Management in Gaza
Reconstruction and debris management in Gaza face technical, logistical, and political obstacles that go far beyond the availability of cement and steel. According to UNDP and other UN agencies, effective debris management typically includes debris mapping, safe demolition of unstable structures, sorting materials, recycling where possible, and safely disposing of hazardous waste. In Gaza, each step is complicated by access restrictions and resource shortages.
Hundreds of thousands of people continue to live near or directly on top of debris fields, complicating large‑scale clearance operations. Without reliable electricity, fuel, and specialized equipment, many basic tasks—such as cutting and separating rebar from concrete—are carried out by hand.
TL;DR: Large‑scale reconstruction requires systematic debris management, but in Gaza this process is slowed by access limits, equipment shortages, and the need to operate around densely populated, displaced communities.
Debris Management Challenges: Concrete, Steel, and Hazardous Dust
Debris in Gaza typically contains a mix of reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, plastics, household waste, and potentially hazardous materials. Key challenges include:
- Sorting concrete and steel: In many conflict zones, rubble recycling involves crushing concrete to produce aggregate and separating out rebar for recycling. In Gaza, the lack of large crushers, rebar cutters, and conveyor systems forces workers to separate materials manually, slowing recovery and increasing physical risk.
- Limited on‑site processing: Mobile concrete crushers and small‑scale rebar shears, which are commonly used in post‑disaster contexts, are scarce due to import restrictions and fuel shortages.
- Environmental and health impacts: Dust from demolition and rubble handling can carry silica and other fine particles, contributing to respiratory disease. Older buildings may contain asbestos or lead‑based paint, which pose long‑term health risks when fibers or dust are inhaled. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers.
- Space constraints: Safe temporary storage sites for rubble and recyclable materials are limited in a densely populated strip, making organized sorting and recycling even more difficult.
Some local initiatives and NGOs have explored low‑tech rubble processing, such as using small crushers to produce sub‑base for roads or non‑structural blocks, but these efforts remain small‑scale relative to the volume of debris.
TL;DR: The lack of crushers, rebar cutters, safe storage areas, and protective equipment makes debris management slow and hazardous, with significant environmental and health implications.
Limited Aid and Blocked Reconstruction
International aid has arrived, but as of early 2024 humanitarian agencies consistently report that it is far below what is needed for a population facing both war damage and winter conditions. According to OCHA and other relief organizations, only a portion of the roughly hundreds of thousands of winter‑appropriate tents and shelter kits required for displaced families have been allowed into Gaza. Many of the tents that do arrive are thin and poorly insulated against prolonged rain and wind.
Water pumps, heavy machinery for debris removal, and essential construction materials remain heavily restricted or subject to lengthy approval processes. Without excavators, cranes, or sufficient fuel, Palestinians are forced to clear rubble and salvage iron by hand, often in unsafe conditions.
Residents scoop floodwater from tents using buckets, plastic containers, or anything they can find. “All international sides should take responsibility for Gaza’s conditions. People here face real danger at every level,” said Amjad al‑Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network, which coordinates local organizations responding to the crisis.
Humanitarian groups such as OCHA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and international NGOs have repeatedly warned that delays in aid and reconstruction risk turning an acute emergency into a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
TL;DR: Aid for winter shelter and reconstruction is arriving but remains far below needs. Restrictions on fuel, machinery, and materials severely limit organized debris clearance and rebuilding.
Ongoing Hostilities and Insecurity
The humanitarian crisis is unfolding amid continuing hostilities and periodic escalations. While there have been temporary pauses and localized reductions in bombardment since October 2023—often linked to negotiations over hostages and humanitarian access—no comprehensive, durable ceasefire has been in place as of late 2024.
Sporadic shelling, airstrikes, and ground operations keep residents on edge and complicate relief efforts. Humanitarian convoys and debris‑removal teams must frequently adjust routes or suspend operations due to security concerns, delaying both immediate relief and longer‑term reconstruction planning.
“Every day is about finding food, water, and shelter. The future doesn’t exist right now,” said Wael al‑Jabra.
TL;DR: With no lasting ceasefire, insecurity continues to disrupt aid delivery and debris clearance, slowing progress on shelter and reconstruction.
Structural Damage, Flood Risks, and Winter Shelter Crisis
The impact of flooding extends beyond fabric tents. According to the Palestinian Civil Defense, at least several partially damaged buildings have collapsed after heavy rains, underlining the dangers of living in structurally compromised housing. The agency has advised residents to avoid obviously unstable structures whenever possible, but many displaced families have no alternative shelter.
Waterlogged roads and sewage‑contaminated streets slow or block aid delivery, especially to informal camps. After major storms, emergency responders report thousands of distress calls related to flooding, structural collapse, and medical emergencies. These problems compound what many humanitarian agencies describe as a winter shelter crisis in Gaza.
With limited pumping equipment and little protective gear, residents often wade barefoot through knee‑deep water, using buckets and mops to clear homes and tents. Improvised rebar frames and tarpaulins offer some protection but are vulnerable to high winds and water pooling.
TL;DR: Flooding and structural instability make both temporary tents and partially damaged buildings hazardous, intensifying the winter shelter crisis and complicating emergency responses.
War Crimes, Accountability, and Complex Realities
The legacy of the war is complex and painful for civilians on all sides. In a report released in late 2023, Amnesty International stated that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed grave abuses, including killings of civilians, hostage‑taking, and sexual violence during the 7 October attacks, which Amnesty says may amount to crimes under international law. Hamas has disputed or rejected various characterizations in such reports.
At the same time, numerous human rights organizations—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other groups—as well as UN‑appointed experts have raised serious concerns about Israeli military operations in Gaza. They have pointed to patterns of large‑scale destruction of civilian infrastructure, alleged indiscriminate attacks, and measures that may constitute collective punishment, which these bodies say could amount to violations of international humanitarian law or potential war crimes. Israel has rejected many of these allegations, arguing that its operations comply with international law and that it takes steps to minimize civilian harm.
Investigations into alleged war crimes and broader accountability are ongoing in various forums, including international courts and UN mechanisms. For civilians in Gaza, however, these legal processes feel distant compared with immediate priorities: securing shelter, food, clean water, and medical care.
TL;DR: Human rights organizations and UN experts have accused both Hamas and Israeli forces of serious violations that may amount to war crimes, while all parties dispute different aspects of these claims. Formal investigations are ongoing and outcomes remain uncertain.
Resilience in the Face of Near‑Total Loss
Despite extensive destruction, many Gazans show determination to maintain a sense of agency in their lives. “We use what we can from the rubble. Every rod, every tent, every effort keeps our family alive,” said worker Haitham Arbiea.
For some, laboring amid the ruins is a way to reclaim a measure of control. By rebuilding tents from shattered homes and reusing iron from collapsed roofs, they assert their intention to remain on their land and to preserve family and community ties, even in precarious circumstances.
Stories like those of Wael al‑Jabra and Amal Shabat highlight the intersection of armed conflict, harsh winter weather, and constrained humanitarian access. They also illustrate how improvised engineering—reusing rebar, tarpaulins, and found materials—has become central to daily survival.
TL;DR: Residents are using salvaged materials not only for physical survival but also as a way to maintain agency, identity, and community ties amid profound loss.
Immediate Needs: What Would Improve Shelter and Debris Conditions?
For decision‑makers, donors, and humanitarian practitioners, several priority measures could rapidly improve shelter conditions and debris management, even before large‑scale reconstruction begins:
- Shelter materials: Fast‑track the entry of winterized tents, tarpaulins, insulated panels, plastic sheeting, and basic timber or steel framing. These items can immediately strengthen or replace worn‑out shelters.
- Rebar and basic construction supplies: Prioritize controlled entry of rebar, wire mesh, fasteners, and cement for critical repairs, small‑scale masonry, and safer support structures—especially for schools, clinics, and communal facilities.
- Water management tools: Supply portable pumps, hoses, and drainage tools to reduce flooding in camps and damaged neighborhoods, alongside basic elevation and drainage works.
- Small‑scale machinery: Allow in compact excavators, skid‑steer loaders, mobile concrete crushers, and rebar cutters that can operate in dense urban environments and support rubble recycling in conflict zones.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide gloves, helmets, respirators, and boots for rubble workers and residents exposed to dust and debris.
In addition, clear, predictable procedures for importing such equipment and materials—paired with independent monitoring—could help address security concerns while enabling essential reconstruction and debris management in Gaza.
TL;DR: Prioritizing winterized shelter materials, controlled rebar and cement imports, small machinery, pumps, and PPE could quickly reduce risk and improve living conditions while larger reconstruction plans are negotiated.
Emerging Technical Solutions and Pilot Projects
Despite constraints, some technical solutions and pilot efforts—both proposed and, in some cases, initiated by NGOs or local actors—offer potential models for scaling up when conditions allow:
- Modular and prefabricated shelters: Several humanitarian organizations have developed modular shelter systems that can be flat‑packed and rapidly assembled on site. These can provide better insulation and structural stability than tents, particularly when anchored with rebar or simple footings.
- Local rubble‑crushing initiatives: In other conflict‑affected settings, UN agencies and NGOs have run projects to crush rubble into aggregate for road sub‑base, non‑structural blocks, or fill material. Similar approaches have been discussed for Gaza and could be expanded once crushers and fuel are consistently available.
- Low‑resource construction techniques: NGOs and engineering groups have experimented globally with earthen blocks stabilized with small amounts of cement, bamboo or light steel framing, and other techniques that use minimal imported materials. Adapted versions of these techniques may become relevant for Gaza’s recovery phase.
Many of these approaches depend on secure access, predictable supply lines, and coordination with local authorities and communities to ensure they are culturally acceptable and technically appropriate.
TL;DR: Modular shelters, small‑scale rubble recycling, and low‑resource construction methods could complement traditional rebuilding if materials and equipment are allowed in and projects are coordinated with local communities.
Conclusion
Gaza’s winter shelter crisis shows how quickly basic human security can unravel when conflict, blockade, and severe weather converge. Iron rods salvaged from ruins now serve as both symbols of loss and practical tools for survival, bridging the gap between homes that once stood and temporary structures that offer only partial protection.
Meaningful reconstruction will require secure humanitarian access, reliable flows of shelter and construction materials, and debris management systems that can safely handle tens of millions of tonnes of rubble. It will also depend on political arrangements that prioritize civilian protection and allow long‑term planning rather than repeated cycles of destruction and emergency response.
Until such conditions are in place, many families in Gaza will continue to sift through rubble in search of rebar and other materials, using their own hands and ingenuity to create the smallest measure of safety in a devastated landscape.
TL;DR: Without sustained access, materials, and political agreements that enable large‑scale rebuilding, Gaza’s residents will remain dependent on salvaged rebar and improvised shelters to endure future winters.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Conflict since October 2023 has caused extensive destruction across Gaza, with tens of thousands of reported Palestinian fatalities according to local health authorities and UN agencies.
- UNDP and partners estimate tens of millions of tonnes of debris, with cleanup likely to take at least seven years under optimal conditions.
- Winter storms have created a severe winter shelter crisis in Gaza, flooding camps and increasing risks of hypothermia and disease.
- Salvaged iron rods (rebar) are widely used for makeshift shelter frames, but their condition raises structural and safety concerns.
- Restrictions on construction materials, heavy machinery, and fuel significantly slow debris management and formal reconstruction.
TL;DR: Massive damage, huge debris volumes, harsh winter weather, and restrictions on materials have combined to make salvaged rebar and improvised shelters central—but risky—components of daily survival in Gaza.
FAQ
Q: Why are Palestinians in Gaza salvaging iron rods from destroyed homes?
A: Palestinians in Gaza salvage iron rods because new construction materials—especially rebar, cement, and structural steel—are tightly restricted and often unaffordable. With large numbers of homes destroyed and formal reconstruction stalled, families rely on recovered rods to build tent frames, reinforce damaged walls, and earn small amounts of income by selling scrap metal. In the current collapsed economy and under blockade conditions, salvaged iron is one of the few materials readily available for basic shelter.
Q: Is it safe to use salvaged rebar for new or temporary structures in Gaza?
A: Salvaged rebar from bomb‑damaged buildings often has bends, cracks, and corrosion that reduce its strength, so it is generally not considered safe for permanent, multi‑storey structures. However, in Gaza’s emergency context it is widely used for light, temporary construction such as tent frames or simple sheds. Minimal safety practices—choosing less‑damaged bars, adding cross‑bracing, and avoiding heavy loads—can reduce risks, but they cannot bring these structures up to normal engineering standards.
Q: How much debris has the war in Gaza created, and how long will cleanup take?
A: UNDP and other UN agencies estimate that the war has produced tens of millions of tonnes of debris in Gaza, including reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, and household waste. Current assessments suggest that even with adequate machinery, fuel, and access, clearing this debris could take up to seven years. Given ongoing restrictions and security challenges, many experts expect the actual cleanup process to take significantly longer.
Q: What are the main obstacles to reconstruction and debris management in Gaza?
A: Key obstacles include restrictions on importing construction materials and heavy machinery, shortages of fuel and spare parts, security risks that limit access to certain areas, and the sheer volume of rubble intermixed with hazardous materials. The lack of large crushers, rebar cutters, and protective equipment also slows safe debris processing. Political disputes over governance and reconstruction frameworks further delay long‑term rebuilding plans.
Q: What types of aid would most quickly improve winter shelter conditions in Gaza?
A: Priority items include winterized tents, durable tarpaulins, insulated panels, blankets, warm clothing, and basic framing materials (such as rebar and timber) for safer temporary structures. Water pumps and drainage equipment can reduce flooding in camps, while compact excavators, small rubble crushers, and rebar cutters would accelerate debris management. Ensuring predictable entry of these supplies—alongside food, medical care, and sanitation support—would significantly improve conditions during the winter months.
