UN warns 950,000 displaced Palestinians in Gaza face flood risks

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (YPA) – The United Nations has warned that around 950,000 displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of flooding during the winter season, noting that more than 400,000 are living in sites exposed to high levels of risk.

A UN report published on Tuesday said 294,250 families across the Strip require shelter assistance, while available supplies remain insufficient to meet their needs. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), shelter assistance has reached only 18% of families in need.

The warning comes as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians continue to live in worn-out tents and makeshift shelters, raising concerns that rainfall and winter storms will further deteriorate their already dire living conditions.

In September, Gaza’s Government Media Office warned that more than 60% of displacement tents were worn out and required immediate replacement.

On Monday, The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it was cutting its food assistance in Gaza by around one-third, citing a need for $450 million to sustain its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank between October 2026 and March 2027.

According to the WFP, the number of people receiving food and cash assistance in Gaza fell from 1.6 million to 1.1 million as of October. Meanwhile, the number of hot meals distributed daily dropped from 250,000 to 150,000.

This comes amid the Israeli occupation’s violation of its obligations under the ceasefire agreement since October 10, 2025, including the opening of crossings and the entry of food, relief, and medical aid, as well as shelter supplies, in the agreed-upon quantities.

@E.Y.M