The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) revealed today, Friday, estimated results indicating that 63% of buildings in the Gaza Strip were assessed as destroyed or severely damaged.

UNRWA's 127th Situation Report on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, states that Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip continue, resulting in civilian casualties, displacement of residents, and destruction of residential buildings and public infrastructure.

“Additional eviction orders continued to be issued during the reporting period from 2 to 7 August, with a new eviction order issued on 5 August warning people living in parts of Khan Younis and northern Rafah to immediately move to Al-Mawasi,” the report added. “According to the Site Management Working Group, this latest eviction order affects 41 displacement sites, 19 water and sanitation facilities, 12 schools, and two functioning medical points.”

1.9 million displaced

The report indicated that “according to the United Nations, up to 1.9 million people (or 9 out of every 10 people) across the Gaza Strip are internally displaced, including people who have been displaced repeatedly (some up to 10 times).”

The report confirmed that the humanitarian and technical working groups provided an update on current operations and challenges inside Gaza, and several groups reported ongoing access challenges that prevent groups from delivering humanitarian assistance; vital sectors including water and sanitation, shelter and health urgently need increased humanitarian supplies to maintain operations, for example, the water and sanitation group notes that the depletion of chlorine reserves, which were being consumed at double the rate before the war, requires the urgent import of new chlorine supplies, which are used to purify water essential for safe drinking water.

A Palestinian removes debris from an Israeli airstrike on a house in the central Gaza Strip on July 16, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

A Palestinian removes debris from an Israeli airstrike on a house in the central Gaza Strip on July 16, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

63% of Gaza's buildings are destroyed or damaged

The report noted the findings published by the United Nations, which estimated that 63% of buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed or damaged (severely or moderately), and its latest findings showed an increase in the damage and destruction of buildings in various parts of Gaza compared to its analysis in May.

For example, North Gaza and Rafah governorates saw the highest increase in damage, with approximately 17,300 new buildings damaged. Following the Israeli military operation in Rafah city (which began on 6 May), the total number of buildings assessed as damaged now stands at 13,237, of which 76% (10,100) are newly assessed as damaged.

According to the World Health Organization and the Health Cluster, the health system is still barely functioning after 300 days of war, with 90 hospitals and primary health care centres not functioning. UNRWA remains a major player in the health sector, providing health services through 10 primary health care centres and up to 100 mobile medical points across the Gaza Strip.

By 7 August, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since 7 October had reached 205.

The collection of essential humanitarian supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza faces many challenges, including deteriorating law and order, war and insecurity, damaged infrastructure, fuel shortages, and access restrictions.