CAIRO, November 8, 2026 (WAFA) – Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the world's largest Islamic religious academic institution, has issued an urgent appeal to relief agencies, international organizations, Arab and Islamic nations, and global communities to act swiftly to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. The institution called for the immediate establishment of emergency corridors to deliver weather-resistant tents, winter clothing, heating equipment, food, and medicine without obstruction, in order to save civilian lives and fulfill their humanitarian and religious duties.
In a statement released on Sunday, Al-Azhar expressed profound sorrow over the worsening humanitarian catastrophe facing the people of the Gaza Strip, particularly displaced families in camps and shelters.
Heavy rainfall and severe winter weather have flooded thousands of dilapidated tents, leaving children, women, the elderly, and the sick stranded in freezing conditions without adequate shelter, heating, or fuel.
The statement emphasized that leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians, including infants, exposed to freezing temperatures and flooded tents—while depriving them of basic survival necessities—demands urgent international intervention. It called for a revival of the global human conscience, urging governments, institutions, and people worldwide to assume their responsibilities toward the suffering of Gaza's residents.
Al-Azhar underscored that these heartbreaking humanitarian scenes must not be reduced to passing news stories without effective action, demanding immediate support for those affected to protect their dignity and fundamental right to life.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate rapidly with the onset of winter. Persistent displacement, widespread damage to infrastructure, and reliance on inadequate shelters leave families highly vulnerable to harsh weather.
The freezing temperatures and heavy rains continue to exacerbate the suffering of displaced populations—particularly children, patients, and the elderly—deepening the urgent, sustained need for shelter, fuel, medical assistance, and essential winter relief.
T.R.
