As recovery efforts in Gaza begin, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting communities by helping restore essential services, creating temporary jobs and setting up safe spaces for humanitarian work. Access to shelter is a key part of this effort, especially in areas where homes and public infrastructure have been badly damaged.
Relief Housing Units begin entering Gaza
In recent weeks, Relief Housing Units (RHUs) provided by Better Shelter have started entering Gaza as part of UNDP’s response. The shelters are used to support activities on the ground, providing temporary housing and spaces for services that are critical to early recovery in areas where permanent structures are damaged or no longer safe to use.
Five RHUs have recently been installed to help expand hospital facilities.
Shelter is a lifeline
Access to shelter is a prerequisite for recovery. Safe temporary structures allow people to regain a sense of stability and enable humanitarian actors to continue do their work under constrained conditions. By relieving pressure on damaged buildings and infrastructure, shelters support both immediate humanitarian needs and the transition towards longer-term recovery.
While the situation in Gaza remains fragile and needs are extensive, the arrival of shelters marks an important step in UNDP’s ongoing efforts to help communities move beyond emergency response. Combined with employment programmes, rehabilitation of services and community-based support, temporary shelters contribute to restoring daily life, dignity and resilience.
Donor support
UNDP’s work in Gaza is made possible through the generous support of international partners and donors, including Denmark, Germany, Japan, Norway, Qatar, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), who contribute funding and resources to support recovery, services and livelihoods on the ground.
