The escalation between Palestinian armed factions and Israel that occurred between 10 to 21 May 2021 was the severest since the 2014 escalation. The experience led to a lot of death, destruction, and trauma amongst the residents. Based on the reports generated by the OHCHR, the fatality was 260 including 66 children, 113,000 IDPs who sought shelter and protection with hosting families or at UNRWA schools, loss of about US$380 million in physical damage and US$ 190 million economic loss, cut in the power supply and restrictions in the movements of goods and services in and out of Gaza. 

The identified humanitarian needs were in the areas of protection, health, shelter, education, WASH, food security, and in coordination and support services. The MoPWH has indicated that they have pledges from various agencies who have identified rehabilitating partially damaged houses and major rehabilitation of damaged HU.

UNOPS has been in coordination with MoPWH in the area of shelter response or interventions. With the opportunity of additional funding, UNOPS can respond to some of the repair needs of severely damaged and uninhabitable houses that could lessen the IDP caseload. The reconstruction of uninhabitable HU in residential buildings assessed to be structurally sound after the bombardment will contribute directly to housing 85 families and lessening the need for the temporary transactional funding on rent and NFI.