70% of Gaza’s Population Living in Tents
5.12.2024
Reading time
2 minutes
Due to war and destruction, over 70% of Gaza’s residents live in makeshift tents, unable to shield against cold or flooding. At least 500,000 Palestinians are in flood-prone areas. A ceasefire and safe return are needed, but many have no homes left. The UN Satellite Centre estimates over 65% of Gaza’s buildings are damaged.
Nearly 90% of Gaza’s population are internally displaced, forced from homes due to safety concerns or evacuation orders. More than 1.6 million people, over 70% of the enclave’s population, live in tent camps, which often become long-term shelters. These tents provide little protection from winter cold or heavy rain, creating hazardous conditions, especially for children.
Many displaced have nowhere to return. With two-thirds of buildings damaged, rebuilding Gaza will take years, even with an unlikely ceasefire. For many, “temporary” shelters will last indefinitely. Healthcare is overwhelmed. Doctors report patients are too weak to recover properly, compounded by malnutrition, lack of medication, and ongoing violence.
Since the conflict escalated, over 44,000 Palestinians have died, 75-80% of whom are civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, 1,578 people have died, 51% of them civilians from the October 7, 2023, attack.
