There is no time to waste to meet the shelter needs of Gaza's population, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

This came at a press conference, today, Tuesday, in the Swiss city of Geneva, in which Laerke pointed out that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza entered into force on January 19.

He stressed the need for the ceasefire to continue, saying: "Now is the time for great hope, but of course, no one should underestimate the complexities ahead, and clearing debris and disposing of explosive ordnance left behind by the war are some of these things."

He stressed the need to deliver aid at maximum capacity, saying: "Hunger is widespread, people are homeless, and illness and injury are common. There is a cloud of deep psychological trauma hanging over Gaza."

"Our priorities include providing food aid, opening bakeries, providing health care, reactivating hospitals, and providing supplies to repair water networks and shelters," he added.

Regarding the massive destruction in Gaza, Laerke said: “People are building their own shelters. So part of the mission here is to find shelter. The sooner it is found, the better. There is no time to waste.”

According to the United Nations, 160,000 homes in Gaza have been destroyed and 276,000 homes have been severely or partially damaged by the Israeli aggression. This means that 92% of the housing in Gaza has been either destroyed or damaged.