2023-07 Factsheet - Palestine

< May 2023

July 2023

Photo credit: NRC

Shelter Cluster Mid Year Report

GAZA

Gaza suffers from a chronic housing shortage. Deficit of housing stock since 2017 is exceeding 120,000 housing units, and 14,000 housing units are needed as an annual average to meet natural population growth.
The housing crisis is impacted by a combination of different factors; including the recurrent escalations, the blockade, high costs of construction, and limited economic opportunities
The housing sector is one of the main impacted sectors during each escalation, since 2008, Gaza Strip has witnessed several escalations of hostilities. Varying from medium to large scale conflicts, however resulted in the destruction of 14,000 housing units and the damage of 245,000 units, in addition to over 600,000 people (1/3 of the population) internally displaced.
A total of 75,000 outstanding shelters with different degrees of damage since 2014 escalation need repair, 2,200 units need reconstruction.
Low funding commitments and slow pace of reconstruction make additional pressure on the housing sector with around 5,500 people remain displaced until now.

West Bank and East Jerusalem

The humanitarian Shelter impact of the Israeli forces operation in Jenin that has taken place during the period 3-4 July 2023 on Shelter sector are 870 housing units were affected including 23 totally destroyed, 47 sustained severe damage and rendered unlivable, in addition to an estimated 800 housing units left with minor to major damage. [Dashboard HERE]

Shelter Situation Overview and Analysis

Adding new shelters or upgrading existing ones in area C faces escalating and major challenges through continuous monitoring of the works by settlers and the ICA, in addition to creating an environment that expels the Palestinian people from the places where they are living in area C.
May 2023 escalation, has added new urgent shelter needs of a caseload of around 21,000 affected people in Gaza for the already uncovered shelter needs. Many cluster partners have had to change their priorities and targets to cover emergent needs which include:

11,400 individuals have been protected and have improved access to adequate shelter through rehabilitation, repair, and upgrade of damaged and substandard shelters to meet their basic shelter needs, including adaptation of the shelter for 680 PWDs.
234 eligible HHs received timely post-demolition shelter assistance in cash or in kind.
4,500 individuals who are exposed to harsh weather and protection concerns were supported with winterization and summarization assistance.

Low progress towards the cluster HRP2023 targets is due to limited funds for the cluster partners.
Adding new shelters or upgrading existing ones in area C faces escalating and major challenges through continuous monitoring of the works by settlers and the ICA, in addition to creating an environment that expels the Palestinian people from the places where they are living in area C.