UN Highlights Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Displacement Sites Amid Severe Shortages

The United Nations warned on Tuesday that nearly 1.7 million displaced Palestinians — representing roughly 80 percent of Gaza’s population — are enduring dire living conditions across almost 1,600 camps, suffering acute shortages of water, shelter, and essential services, according to Anadolu.

Speaking at a news conference, OCHS spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric cited ongoing “shelling, gunfire, bombing, and airstrikes” that continue to endanger civilians throughout Gaza.

UNICEF announced on social media that a 17‑year‑old girl, one of its Youth Champions, was killed while en route to sit for her secondary school examinations.

“We reiterate that civilians, including children, must always be protected,” Dujarric emphasized.

He noted that a recent assessment of displacement sites revealed that at least 59,000 individual shelters house more than eight occupants each, while approximately 38,500 people are sleeping exposed to the elements.

“An estimated 600,000 individuals in the surveyed locations lack adequate access to potable water,” he added, pointing out that “about half of the sites show no visible drainage, and nearly half report fire hazards in proximity to shelters.”

Dujarric reported rodent infestations in 80 percent of sites, and noted that over half of the camps have open sewage and accumulated waste.

In roughly 250 locations, hosting close to 250,000 people, incidents involving explosive ordnance were documented, he said.

Since the cease‑fire took effect on 10 October 2025, Israeli air and ground actions have resulted in at least 1,027 fatalities and 3,280 injuries, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The cease‑fire was brokered after two years of conflict that began in October 2023, a war that has claimed more than 73,000 Palestinian lives, wounded over 173,000, and devastated about 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that reconstruction will cost approximately $70 billion.

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