KABUL: The United Nations has stated that shelter is a necessity, not a luxury, reporting that 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip require “immediate and emergency” shelter due to the destruction caused by the Israeli occupying regime over the past two years.
In a report released on Friday night, the organization addressed the urgent needs of Gaza’s residents.
Citing Amy Pope, the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, the report mentions that the people of Gaza have experienced unimaginable suffering and that 90% of them have been displaced.
Pope stated: “Shelter is not a luxury; it is a place where families can rest, stay warm, and begin to rebuild their lives. Every person deserves to live in safety and dignity, and humanitarian aid must reach everyone, everywhere.”
She added that many residents of the Gaza Strip find their homes in ruins upon returning, making it impossible to start their lives anew without safe shelter.
According to the report, while the UN has stored 28,000 tents and over 4 million tons of winter aid supplies for transfer to Gaza in Jordan, the delivery of these supplies to the war-affected people in Gaza remains impossible due to customs delays, lack of security, and restrictions at border crossings, even with a ceasefire in place.
This comes as thousands of Palestinians have returned to their neighborhoods after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime, starting anew with renewed hope amid the widespread devastation.