Gaza shelter crisis deepens as Israeli strikes and aid curbs bite
UN agencies warned on Thursday that 94% of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents lack adequate shelter, with Israeli strikes and restrictions on aid worsening living conditions.
Source: United Nations News · August 21, 2026 at 4:36 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 21 AUGUST 2026 —
UN agencies warned on Thursday that 94% of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents lack adequate shelter, with Israeli strikes and restrictions on aid worsening living conditions.
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More than four out of five families now face critical or catastrophic shortages of fuel, food and household items, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Nearly two-thirds live in tents or temporary shelters not designed for long-term use, leaving them exposed to harsh weather. Last winter, over 70% of families experienced flooding, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
“These constraints affect people’s ability to sleep, cook, wash, store food and maintain lighting,” Dujarric told reporters in New York. “We continue to face obstacles in bringing more structured shelter into Gaza.” Aid groups estimate $562 million is needed to improve living conditions, but funding shortfalls and Israeli restrictions on the entry of materials, equipment and heavy machinery have limited relief efforts.
The crisis deepened on Thursday when the bodies of 50 people, including 19 children killed two years ago, were buried after being recovered from Gaza’s rubble. Retrieving remains and clearing debris remains difficult because of restrictions on heavy machinery and access to large parts of the Strip, Dujarric said.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) reported progress in pest control, with efforts expanded since May to cover more than 3,250 high-risk sites, including displacement camps and hospitals.
In southern Lebanon, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recorded 86 airspace violations, nine airstrikes and 265 projectiles fired by Israeli forces from Monday to Wednesday, along with nearly 30 drone incidents. Demolitions and infrastructure destruction have continued, while seven incidents this week disrupted patrols, aid convoys and civilian movements, including delays, rerouting and forced turnarounds.
For Malaysian businesses, the crisis highlights risks to regional supply chains and the humanitarian cost of prolonged conflict on trade and logistics.
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