Two Years of Devastating War in Gaza Before the Latest Ceasefire, Leaving Massive Casualties, Destruction, and Displacement

Place: Gaza Strip - State of Palestine

Date: November 18, 2025

(Last update 11/19/2025 10:00:34 AM ) Prepared

Event description

A month into the ceasefire, the scale of physical destruction in Gaza is staggering: international assessments indicate that around 90% of homes and infrastructure have been damaged to some degree, while over 93% of school buildings require full reconstruction or major rehabilitation before they can function again. Although front lines have largely stabilized and some forces have pulled back, several areas still experience intermittent strikes and drone attacks, with vast stretches of rubble rendering many neighborhoods uninhabitable.

Humanitarian conditions

Hundreds of thousands of families in Gaza face a protracted emergency, many still displaced or living in heavily damaged homes. UN reports note that humanitarian efforts remain far below the level of need, despite attempts to scale up aid deliveries under the ceasefire framework. Households continue to experience shortages of food and safe drinking water, overcrowded shelters, and rising risks of disease and malnutrition, especially among children, women, and older people, while the remaining health facilities operate under extreme strain.

Security situation

Despite the ceasefire that took effect on 10 October, human rights groups and media have documented repeated violations, including limited airstrikes, shelling, and targeted attacks in border areas, resulting in dozens of additional casualties during the truce period. Movement remains risky in heavily damaged districts, where unexploded ordnance, collapsed buildings, and broken infrastructure continue to pose serious threats to civilians.

Organizations' response

The UN and its partners are working to scale up the humanitarian response under the ceasefire, prioritizing food, water, health, and shelter, but reports highlight major access constraints, including restrictions on movement, limited crossing capacity, and persistent insecurity. Although the number of aid convoys has increased, available supplies still fall far short of actual needs, particularly in the hardest-hit northern areas, where overstretched local relief networks continue to play a critical frontline role.

Recommendations

Advocate for the effective consolidation of the ceasefire, preventing violations that further deteriorate humanitarian conditions and hinder relief operations.

Push for stable and predictable humanitarian corridors to enable regular, sufficient aid flows, particularly to the most affected areas.

Prioritize the rehabilitation of critical basic services (water, electricity, sanitation, health) alongside immediate emergency distributions.

Support emergency education programmes following the widespread damage to schools, to keep learning opportunities available at least at a minimum level.

Strengthen field monitoring and analysis to maintain up-to-date data on casualties, displacement, and damage, informing both response and recovery planning.

Place special emphasis on psychosocial support for Gaza’s population, especially children and women, given the prolonged trauma of the two-year conflict.

(Last update 11/19/2025 10:00:34 AM ) Prepared

Event description

Field assessment teams reported that the extent of destruction was far greater than anticipated. Preliminary figures indicate that approximately 9,500 housing units were completely destroyed, and around 620 public infrastructure facilities—including water, electricity, and road networks—were severely damaged. Entire neighborhoods were declared uninhabitable, with rubble blocking access to critical facilities.

Humanitarian conditions

Humanitarian needs escalated sharply in the first week after the ceasefire, with a significant number of families found homeless. Data indicate that approximately 95,000 households now rely entirely on aid, while 38 hospitals and clinics remain non-operational due to damage and lack of supplies. Demand for food and clean water surged beyond available resources.

Security situation

Despite the ceasefire, sporadic security disturbances were reported, and access to heavily damaged neighborhoods remained challenging. Unexploded ordnance and debris posed ongoing threats to civilians, while local teams worked cautiously to clear rubble and reopen essential roads.

Organizations' response

Humanitarian organizations began conducting wide-scale needs assessments, alongside the initial distribution of food, water, and hygiene supplies. Teams were able to reach around 52 distribution points across the Gaza Strip and assist more than 53,000 households during the first week. However, they reported a significant gap between the scale of needs and the actual capacity to respond, with thousands of families in the north and south still lacking regular access to aid. Several agencies also started establishing emergency shelters in schools and public facilities to accommodate the increasing number of displaced people.

Recommendations

Expand field assessments to cover all affected areas.

Provide urgent food and health kits, especially for displaced families.

Support the reactivation of key hospitals and ensure medical supply flow.

Establish temporary shelters to accommodate rising displacement.

Strengthen water systems and accelerate the restoration of essential networks.

Develop an accurate database to identify gaps in humanitarian needs.

(Last update 11/19/2025 10:00:34 AM ) Prepared

Event description

The Aleppo countryside witnessed violent civil clashes between rival local groups, which led to a rapid deterioration of the security situation. The clashes began two days ago as a result of local disputes, but escalated to include several neighboring towns and regions, causing mass displacement and disrupting basic services.

Humanitarian conditions

Victims and injured: More than 45 dead and about 120 injured, according to local medical sources. Displaced people: Nearly 2,000 people fled areas of clashes towards nearby villages and camps. Basic services: Electricity and water outage in some neighborhoods, and most health centers closed. The most affected groups: children and women make up more than 60% of the displaced.

Security situation

Intense deployment of armed men at the entrances to villages and main roads. Difficulty in reaching relief teams due to the closure of some main roads with checkpoints. High risk of renewed clashes at any moment, which increases the complexity of response operations.

Organizations' response

Local organizations: Some NGOs began distributing initial food aid (bread, water). International organizations: Mobile medical teams entered some villages to provide first aid. Challenges: weak coordination between agencies, lack of funding, and lack of safe corridors for the entry of aid.