UN warns of dire conditions in Gaza displacement sites as 1.7M Palestinians face shortages

The United Nations has warned that around 1.7 million displaced Palestinians, roughly 80% of Gaza’s population are living in extremely poor conditions across nearly 1,600 displacement sites, facing severe shortages of clean water, shelter, and basic services.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, citing OCHA, said civilians continue to be affected by ongoing shelling, gunfire, airstrikes, and bombing across the Gaza Strip. UNICEF also reported the killing of a 17-year-old girl, a Youth Champion, who was on her way to sit for her high school exam.

A recent assessment of displacement sites found that over 59,000 shelters are overcrowded, with more than eight people per unit, while about 38,500 people are sleeping outdoors.

Around 600,000 people lack adequate access to drinking water, and many sites face sanitation and safety issues, including poor drainage, fire risks, rodent infestations in 80% of locations, and widespread open sewage and waste.

The UN also reported explosive ordnance incidents in nearly 250 sites housing about 250,000 people.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, since a ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, at least 1,027 people have been killed and 3,280 injured. The war, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, injured over 173,000, and destroyed around 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, with reconstruction costs estimated at $70 billion.