Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Residents of Gaza have been repeatedly displaced since the outbreak of war in October 2023, relocating between homes, schools, temporary shelters, and tents under challenging conditions marked by overcrowding and insecurity. One resident, Mayyada, originally from Jabalia refugee camp, expressed hope for a better future for her children despite losing count of her family's forced moves.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and other agencies, is implementing the Gaza Neighbourhood Approach project. This initiative supports displaced families in returning to areas near their original homes by providing new housing units, clearing debris, and rehabilitating essential services. Additional elements include emergency employment opportunities and the restoration of basic infrastructure as part of UNDP’s Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies (REVIVE) initiative, which operates across six countries.
Mayyada described how the conflict drastically changed her life, halting her work as a portrait artist and preventing the plans she and her husband had for their future. Repeated displacement meant starting over many times, losing privacy and stability, and living in crowded tents shared with extended family.
Besides the loss of homes, displaced people have experienced loss of livelihoods and interruption of daily routines and passions. The crowded tent conditions impose social difficulties, including the separation of men and women, which impacts family dynamics.