Introduction
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has entered another dangerous phase as thousands of Palestinians face an impossible choice: remain in overcrowded displacement camps or move into buildings damaged during years of conflict and risk being trapped beneath collapsing structures.
A report published on September 23, 2026, highlights the worsening housing emergency across Gaza, where many residents are living in buildings that were severely damaged during the war. According to the United Nations, around 84% of Gaza’s structures had been damaged or destroyed by October 2025, while Gaza’s civil defence authorities estimate that approximately 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapse.
The danger has become particularly visible following the collapse of a war-damaged building in Gaza City last week. The incident killed 21 people, including children, and demonstrated how buildings weakened by earlier attacks can become deadly shelters when residents have nowhere else to go.
At the same time, reconstruction remains stalled. Restrictions on construction materials and heavy equipment, continuing political disagreements and the enormous scale of destruction have made rebuilding Gaza’s homes and infrastructure extremely difficult.
For families who have already lost homes, however, waiting for reconstruction is not an option. They need shelter now.
A Housing Crisis Inside a Wider Humanitarian Emergency
Gaza’s housing crisis is one of the most visible consequences of the conflict that began in October 2023.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed completely, while many others have suffered serious structural damage. Some buildings remain standing but have damaged foundations, cracked walls, weakened columns, missing windows and unstable roofs.
These structures can appear usable from the outside while presenting serious dangers inside.
For displaced families, however, even an unsafe building may seem preferable to a tent or improvised shelter.
The United Nations has documented extensive damage to residential buildings and continuing shelter needs. In a July 2026 humanitarian assessment, shelter partners reported that among approximately 159,000 housing units assessed, about 60% had either been destroyed or suffered severe structural damage.
The figures demonstrate the enormous gap between the number of people needing safe housing and the limited amount of habitable accommodation available.
Families Forced to Choose Between Two Risks
For many Palestinians in Gaza, the decision to enter a damaged building is not made because they believe it is safe.
It is made because there may be no alternative.
Displacement camps can expose families to extreme heat, cold weather, overcrowding, poor sanitation and inadequate privacy. Tents may provide little protection from weather, while overcrowded camps can increase the spread of infectious diseases.
Gaza City spokesman Hosni Muhanna said thousands of displaced people are being forced into dilapidated buildings because displacement camps cannot provide adequate protection from harsh weather conditions.
This creates a tragic situation in which people must weigh one form of danger against another.
A damaged building may provide walls, a roof and some privacy. But those same walls and that roof may no longer have the structural strength needed to protect the people living inside.
The Story of Heba Arafat
The experience of Gaza City resident Heba Arafat illustrates the problem.
Arafat lives in an apartment where the floor is severely tilted after damage to the building’s foundations. The structure was damaged during the conflict, but she and her family returned because they had nowhere else to go.
Her situation reflects the choices confronting many displaced Palestinians.
The apartment is visibly unsafe, yet leaving it could mean moving into an overcrowded displacement camp or another temporary shelter.
For families that have lost their homes and possessions, the idea of waiting for reconstruction can feel impossible when basic shelter is needed immediately.
A Recent Building Collapse Shows the Danger
The risks became tragically clear in September when a damaged multistory building in Gaza City collapsed.
The building had previously been damaged during the conflict and was being used as accommodation by displaced people. The collapse killed 21 people, according to reports, while dozens of others were rescued from the rubble.
Children were among those killed.
The incident also highlighted another problem: rescuers face major difficulties when responding to building collapses because heavy equipment and other essential machinery are limited.
When a structure falls, every minute matters. But rescue teams cannot always reach trapped people quickly when excavators, cranes and other specialized equipment are unavailable.
Thousands of Buildings Are Considered Dangerous
The building collapse was not an isolated concern.
Gaza’s civil defence authorities have estimated that around 2,000 buildings across the territory are at risk of collapse.
Municipal workers in Gaza City have been identifying dangerous structures and marking them with signs or stencils.
The purpose is to warn residents and people living nearby.
But identifying a dangerous building does not automatically solve the problem.
If families have nowhere else to go, they may continue living inside despite warnings.
This is one of the central challenges of Gaza’s current shelter crisis: evacuation without alternative housing can simply transfer the danger from one location to another.
Why Reconstruction Has Stalled
Rebuilding Gaza requires much more than repairing individual houses.
Entire neighbourhoods need to be cleared of rubble, roads repaired, water systems restored, electricity infrastructure rebuilt and damaged schools and hospitals reconstructed.
The scale of destruction means that reconstruction requires enormous quantities of concrete, steel, glass, electrical equipment, heavy machinery and other materials.
However, access to construction supplies has remained heavily restricted.
Israel says some materials and equipment can have potential military applications and has imposed restrictions on their entry. Palestinian authorities and international humanitarian organisations have argued that many of these materials are essential for civilian reconstruction and recovery.
The disagreement has contributed to delays in large-scale rebuilding.
Heavy Machinery Is Especially Important
Reconstruction does not begin simply by delivering building materials.
Before new buildings can be constructed, huge amounts of rubble often have to be removed.
This requires excavators, bulldozers, cranes, trucks and other heavy equipment.
According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, restrictions have affected the entry of large machinery needed to clear rubble as well as spare parts and lubricants needed to maintain equipment already available in Gaza.
The shortage creates a cycle of delay.
Damaged buildings remain standing because they cannot be safely demolished or repaired. Rubble remains on roads and around neighbourhoods. Families cannot return safely. New construction cannot begin on many sites.
The Scale of the Reconstruction Challenge
The financial cost of rebuilding Gaza is enormous.
A joint assessment by the United Nations, World Bank and European Union, published in April 2026, estimated that Gaza will require approximately $71.4 billion for recovery and reconstruction over the next decade.
That figure illustrates why reconstruction cannot be treated as a short-term housing project.
The damage affects almost every part of civilian life.
Homes need rebuilding.
Schools need repair.
Hospitals require reconstruction.
Water and sanitation networks need restoration.
Roads and public infrastructure need to be cleared and repaired.
Businesses and factories need facilities to restart.
Without these systems, even families who find temporary accommodation will continue to face difficult living conditions.
Water and Sanitation Add to the Pressure
Housing is only one part of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Damage to water and sanitation infrastructure has created additional health risks.
The UN has reported that shortages of essential supplies, including engine oil needed for water and sanitation services, have disrupted operations and increased concerns about sewage overflows.
Overcrowded shelters can make these problems worse.
When large numbers of people share limited sanitation facilities, waste management becomes more difficult.
Standing wastewater, poor drainage and insufficient access to clean water can contribute to the spread of disease.
This means that people living in damaged buildings are not only facing structural risks. They are also living within a wider environment where basic public services remain severely weakened.
Displacement Camps Are Also Under Pressure
It may seem that people could simply move from unsafe buildings into tents.
In reality, displacement camps are already under enormous pressure.
UN humanitarian reports have repeatedly described shortages of tents and other shelter materials.
In July, shelter partners reported having fewer than 1,000 tents remaining in their stocks while other essential household items were sufficient for only around 7,000 households.
The gap between demand and available shelter explains why damaged buildings remain occupied.
People need somewhere to sleep, store their belongings and protect their families.
When tents are unavailable or unsuitable, damaged structures can become an unwanted alternative.
Returning Home Does Not Always Mean Returning to Safety
For many displaced Palestinians, returning to their neighbourhoods is emotionally important.
Home can represent stability after years of displacement.
But in Gaza, returning home can also mean returning to a structure that is no longer safe.
Buildings may have suffered damage that is difficult for ordinary residents to assess.
A cracked wall may look manageable but could indicate deeper structural weakness.
A damaged foundation can compromise an entire building.
A roof weakened by explosions or weather may collapse unexpectedly.
Without qualified engineers, construction materials and proper inspection systems, residents may have difficulty determining whether a building can safely be occupied.
Weather Could Make the Situation Worse
The risks associated with damaged buildings can increase during periods of bad weather.
Rainwater can enter damaged roofs and walls. Water can weaken already compromised structures and make floors slippery.
The Washington Post and other reports have highlighted concerns about deteriorating buildings becoming more dangerous as weather conditions change.
A recent roof collapse in Gaza City after rain reportedly injured four children, according to an Associated Press report.
For families living inside structurally compromised buildings, weather is therefore more than an inconvenience.
It can become another safety threat.
Children Face Particular Risks
Children are especially vulnerable in unstable environments.
They may not recognize structural dangers such as weakened walls, exposed electrical wiring, unstable staircases or falling debris.
Children also spend more time moving around residential areas, potentially bringing them close to dangerous structures.
The recent Gaza City building collapse, in which children were among the victims, demonstrated the devastating consequences of unsafe housing.
Beyond physical danger, prolonged displacement also affects children’s education and daily routines.
Schools have been damaged or repurposed as shelters, while many children have experienced long periods of disrupted education.
Education Amid the Rubble
The housing crisis has also affected schooling.
In some areas, children have returned to education while walking through neighbourhoods surrounded by destroyed buildings and rubble.
Humanitarian organisations have been working to assess damaged sites and make them safer for educational use. UNMAS reported conducting explosive-hazard assessments at damaged sites that could potentially be cleared and converted into educational facilities.
This highlights how reconstruction and education are closely connected.
Children cannot easily return to normal schooling when their homes are unsafe and their neighbourhoods remain damaged.
The Psychological Impact of Unsafe Housing
Living beneath cracked ceilings and beside unstable walls can create constant anxiety.
Families may worry whenever they hear unusual sounds from the building.
Parents can become particularly concerned during storms or after tremors caused by nearby explosions.
For people who have already experienced displacement and loss, an unsafe home can prevent any sense of security from returning.
The psychological consequences of prolonged uncertainty can therefore extend beyond the immediate physical dangers.
Safe housing is not simply about having four walls.
It provides privacy, stability and a place where families can begin rebuilding their lives.
The Challenge of Rubble Removal
Gaza’s reconstruction also faces the enormous problem of debris.
Destroyed buildings have left huge quantities of concrete, metal and other materials across urban areas.
Clearing this rubble requires heavy machinery and careful planning because debris may contain hazardous materials or unexploded ordnance.
Some damaged sites also require safety assessments before people can return.
This makes reconstruction slower than simply replacing a destroyed building with a new one.
Every site must be assessed, cleared and prepared.
Aid Organisations Face Access Challenges
Humanitarian organisations have continued to provide shelter materials and other forms of assistance, but they face restrictions and supply shortages.
The UN’s humanitarian reports have documented difficulties involving approval procedures, items classified as dual-use and inconsistent access to materials needed for shelter work.
These difficulties can make planning difficult.
Humanitarian agencies need predictable access to supplies if they are to prepare shelters before weather emergencies or large-scale displacement.
Without reliable supply chains, emergency responses remain limited.
Reconstruction Requires More Than Money
Even if funding becomes available, rebuilding Gaza will require coordination among multiple actors.
International donors, humanitarian organisations, local authorities, engineers, construction companies and residents will all have roles to play.
There must also be mechanisms for assessing damaged buildings and deciding which structures can be repaired and which must be demolished.
Safe reconstruction requires technical standards and qualified professionals.
Simply rebuilding quickly could create new safety problems if damaged foundations or contaminated sites are not properly assessed.
The Importance of Temporary Housing
While long-term reconstruction remains uncertain, temporary housing is essential.
Families should not have to choose between a dangerous building and an exposed tent.
Humanitarian agencies have called for additional shelter materials and better access to equipment.
Temporary housing can provide an immediate safety buffer while larger reconstruction plans are developed.
However, temporary solutions cannot replace permanent homes.
If reconstruction remains delayed for years, temporary shelters can become long-term living spaces, creating additional health and social challenges.
A Crisis That Cannot Be Solved by One Sector
Gaza’s housing emergency is connected to almost every other aspect of civilian life.
Unsafe homes affect health.
Destroyed schools affect education.
Damaged roads affect aid deliveries.
Broken water systems affect sanitation.
Limited electricity affects hospitals and households.
Unemployment and economic destruction make it difficult for families to repair their own homes.
This interconnected nature means that reconstruction requires a comprehensive approach.
Housing repairs alone will not restore normal life.
What Needs to Happen Next?
The immediate priority is protecting people from buildings that are at serious risk of collapse.
That requires proper structural inspections, clear warnings, emergency relocation options and sufficient temporary shelters.
The next step is accelerating safe debris removal and allowing the equipment required for the task.
Longer-term reconstruction will require large-scale funding and coordinated planning.
The international community, humanitarian organisations and relevant authorities will need to work together to restore essential infrastructure while addressing security and access concerns.
The Human Cost of Delayed Reconstruction
The most important element of Gaza’s reconstruction debate is the people living among the ruins.
For families, statistics about damaged buildings translate into very personal realities.
A destroyed house may mean the loss of a lifetime of memories.
A damaged apartment can mean sleeping under a ceiling that residents fear could collapse.
A destroyed school can mean children losing years of education.
A broken water system can mean families struggling to maintain basic hygiene.
The longer reconstruction remains stalled, the longer these problems continue.
Conclusion
Gaza’s damaged buildings have become a symbol of a much wider humanitarian crisis.
The UN estimates that approximately 84% of Gaza’s structures had been damaged or destroyed by October 2025, while local civil defence authorities say around 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapse.
The recent deaths of 21 people in the collapse of a damaged building in Gaza City demonstrate the immediate danger facing families who have few safe housing options.
Reconstruction has been slowed by political disagreements, restrictions on construction materials and equipment, enormous financial requirements and the sheer scale of destruction.
At the same time, displacement camps cannot meet all shelter needs.
This leaves many Palestinians with an extremely difficult choice: live in overcrowded temporary shelters or return to buildings that may no longer be structurally safe.
The estimated $71.4 billion reconstruction requirement over the next decade shows that rebuilding Gaza will be a long-term undertaking.
For now, however, families need immediate protection.
Safe temporary shelter, structural assessments, rubble removal, humanitarian access and essential construction supplies are critical to reducing the risks faced by civilians.
Until large-scale reconstruction can begin, thousands of people will continue living among damaged buildings, hoping that the walls around them remain standing.