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Gaza is facing a protracted emergency, with a need to provide more adequate and robust emergency shelter solutions beyond tents and tarpaulin. The Technical Working Group (TSA TWG) has developed emergency shelter kits, consisting of framing materials, a sealing off kit and tools. The ESK, while still being an emergency shelter, can be incrementally upgraded to provide a safer and more dignified emergency sheltering and can provide more flexibility compared to tents. Shelter responses including ESKs can work with a household-led approach enabling the engagement of the wider base of skilled labour and capacity of households in Gaza.
Given the limited quantities and type of materials involved in the ESK it is envisaged that an emergency shelter built with these materials will last for 6 – 12 months, given the conditions in Gaza. This relates to both climate and repeated forced displacement where households may be able to gather items before they move or not. The guidance expands on the use of ESK for uses of stand-alone shelters, sealing off shelters and collective centres, but focuses on use of ESK for stand-alone shelters for displaced households as a priority intervention.
This document is intended to guide shelter actors with ESK programming expected to roll out in Gaza in 2025, subject to access. This guidance has been written for Gaza and should not be applied in West Bank.