2,638 Buildings Require Full or Partial Demolition as Ministry Warns That Structural Risks Can Quickly Escalate into a Protection and Shelter Crisis
MoSD Warns of Risks Posed by Buildings at Risk of Collapse in Gaza and Coordinates with Partners on the Ground to Provide Safe Shelter Alternatives for Displaced Families
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development warned of the growing risks posed by damaged buildings at risk of collapse in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing displacement crisis, widespread damage to homes, and limited availability of safe housing alternatives. These conditions are forcing some families to live in or return to buildings that are unfit for habitation despite the dangers they pose.
The Ministry explained that the risks extend beyond structural safety concerns and directly affect social protection and shelter needs, particularly for families that have lost their homes and sources of income, female-headed households, and families with children, orphans, persons with disabilities, and older persons, who face greater difficulties accessing safe and suitable housing alternatives.
According to a report by the International Arab Authority for Reconstruction in Palestine, issued through the Integrated National Damage Assessment System (INDAS) in cooperation with the Palestinian Government and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, approximately 21,000 buildings had been assessed in the areas covered by the project as of 15 August 2026.
The assessment found that 2,638 buildings require full or partial demolition, including 1,787 buildings requiring full demolition and 851 requiring partial demolition. Damage assessments and surveys remain ongoing in other areas.
The Ministry stressed that families being forced to live in structurally damaged or unsafe buildings reflects the severity of the ongoing shelter crisis, particularly amid overcrowding in displacement sites, deteriorating tents, and the inability of many families to afford rental accommodation or home repairs.
It warned that any further building collapse could result in loss of life, additional family displacement, and increased pressure on protection, care, and relief services.
With winter approaching, the Ministry emphasized that these risks become more severe due to rainfall, strong winds, and water infiltration, which may further weaken damaged structures. It called for preventive action before incidents occur and for linking structural assessments with clear evacuation, shelter, and social protection plans.
The Ministry highlighted the importance of identifying families living in buildings classified as dangerous and updating their social and housing information in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and other relevant authorities. It stressed the need to link structural assessment findings with families' actual needs to establish priorities and direct interventions towards those most at risk.
The Ministry emphasized the need to prioritize families with children, orphans, persons with disabilities, and older persons, as well as families without safe alternative accommodation. It called for appropriate shelter solutions to be provided before evacuation or immediately upon leaving unsafe buildings, preventing families from moving from the risk of structural collapse to the risk of homelessness and lack of shelter.
It also called for stronger coordination among government institutions, humanitarian organizations, and partners to provide safe housing alternatives and connect affected families with cash and food assistance, shelter supplies, and social services, while ensuring continued follow-up after evacuation according to each family's needs.
The Ministry of Social Development stressed that addressing dangerous buildings must not end with demolition or evacuation decisions. Rather, these measures must be accompanied by an integrated response that protects families and ensures access to safe alternative accommodation, essential services, and social follow-up, particularly amid growing needs and limited housing options.
In conclusion, the Ministry affirmed that protecting people's lives begins with identifying risks, but cannot be achieved without securing safe alternatives for the families exposed to them. It called for integrated engineering, social, and humanitarian efforts to prevent buildings at risk of collapse from becoming an additional cause of loss of life and displacement.