UN warns Gaza displacement sites face flood and collapse risk as winter nears

GAZA STRIP — The United Nations warned on Tuesday that displaced Palestinians in Gaza face serious risks of flooding and ground collapse as winter approaches, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made the comments at a news conference, Anadolu reported. He cited assessments by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Sites assessed in Khan Younis

According to Anadolu, Dujarric said assessed displacement sites in Khan Younis host more than 650 families. Of those, 160 families are staying in a low-lying pit that used to collect rainwater. Dujarric said the pit is now at risk of flooding with both rain and sewage.

The UN and its partners also assessed five other low-lying sites on Monday, Anadolu reported. Dujarric said these sites, also in Khan Younis, host about 750 people.

A sixth site houses a number of families on the edge of a cliff above the five low-lying sites, he said, according to Anadolu. "We are concerned that soil erosion this winter could cause the ground beneath the tents there to collapse," Dujarric said, as quoted by the agency.

Response limited by funding and supplies

Anadolu quoted Dujarric as saying partners across Gaza are clearing drainage, filling sandbags and levelling ground to support affected communities. He said these efforts are "held back by funding shortfalls and restrictions on the entry of a range of critical supplies."

Dujarric also relayed figures from shelter partners, according to Anadolu. They said available supplies can partially support fewer than one in five of the nearly 300,000 families who need winter shelter assistance.

The report did not say which supplies are restricted. It did not name the authorities responsible for the restrictions or say how much funding is missing. Anadolu did not include any response from Israeli officials.

Background

Anadolu said the war in Gaza began in October 2023. The agency described it as a war launched by Israel with US support. It reported that the war has killed more than 74,000 people and injured more than 175,000. It also said 90% of civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. Anadolu did not give a source or date for these figures.

According to the agency, a ceasefire has been in effect since 10 October 2025. Anadolu said Israel has continued shelling, shooting and demolishing Palestinian structures since then. The report did not include details of specific incidents or any Israeli comment on the claim.

All information in this report comes from Anadolu Agency's account of Dujarric's remarks. Zenga News has not independently verified the figures or the conditions at the sites.