As winter draws closer, displaced families in the Gaza Strip are still waiting for reconstruction to begin on their homes. According to a statement by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), 20,000 houses are now uninhabitable due to the war in Gaza. UNRWA stressed the need to ensure alternative housing is available for the displaced before the start of winter. Umm Raed and her eight member family live in a tent made from pieces of worn cloth. It’s the only shield from the heat of the sun, but what she is really afraid of is winter when they will be exposed to bitter cold and rain, which will turn their lives into an unbearable hell. Her family cannot afford to rent an apartment due to high prices, demand and landlords who exploit the situation. UNRWA promises to provide financial assistance in the form of ‘rental subsidies’ for those with uninhabitable homes.