UN warns Israel ‘heavily’ restricting shelter supplies as flood risks grow in Gaza

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said more than 900 of 1,500 displacement sites across the territory are at risk of flooding if heavy rains persist. The sites host families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed during Israel’s military campaign.

“We and our partners still do not have the tools and the materials to make shelters that are longer lasting,” Dujarric told reporters. He added that essential supplies — including toolkits, timber, cement and heavy machinery to clear rubble — remain restricted and are also scarce in local markets.

Eight temporary relocation sites have been established, but aid agencies say they lack the necessary resources to provide durable housing solutions.

“Our humanitarian colleagues once again underscore that more crossings must be open and a sustained flow of supplies, including fuel, must enter Gaza in a safe, predictable manner,” Dujarric said, urging expanded access to scale up relief operations.

The crisis unfolds amid continued Israeli military actions despite a ceasefire that took effect last October. Gaza health officials say at least 618 Palestinians have been killed and 1,663 wounded in reported ceasefire violations involving air strikes and gunfire.

The truce followed Israel’s two-year genocide in Gaza, which began in October 2023. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 72,000 Palestinians were killed and over 171,000 wounded during the war, most of them women and children. Vast swathes of civilian infrastructure — including homes, schools and hospitals — were destroyed, leaving the territory facing a prolonged humanitarian catastrophe.