UN Warns 94% of Gaza Residents Need Shelter Amid Israeli Restrictions and Funding Shortfalls
Ninety-four percent of Gaza's 2.1 million residents are in need of shelter due to ongoing Israeli gunfire and strikes, according to UN agencies and peacekeepers. Over four out of five families are experiencing critical or catastrophic living conditions, lacking essential items like fuel, energy, and household goods. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric highlighted that these constraints severely impact basic needs such as sleeping, cooking, washing, and coping with extreme temperatures. Nearly two-thirds of families are living in tents or makeshift shelters, which are rapidly deteriorating in harsh weather conditions as they were designed only for short-term use. The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) reported that over 70% of families experienced flooding last winter, underscoring the urgent need for more structured shelter solutions. Obstacles to aid delivery include funding shortfalls and Israeli restrictions on the entry of materials and equipment, limiting efforts to improve living conditions. 
