Around 96,000 homes were destroyed in the bombardment, leaving tens of
thousands of families struggling in the harsh winter without a home. And
aid agencies say that number is set to increase due to dwindling relief
and slow restoration.
According to the
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, an UN-brokered deal between
Israeli and Palestinian authorities - an agreement was reached to enable construction work "on a large scale" in the area.
However, it includes an arrangement that restricts the flow of "dual use" materials into
Gaza, comprising of cement and other essential building materials, supplies that could be seized for military purposes by Hamas.
As a result, few homes have been rebuilt despite international pledges
amounting to billions. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) said they were forced to suspend its cash assistance programme
at the end of January after running out of money.
The agency claimed that to date, it had only received $135m (£87.8m)
in pledges, leaving a shortfall of $585m (£380.6m), and the number
provided to Palestinian refugee families to repair the homes was far
less.
Aid agencies have subsequently found innovative ways to temporarily accommodate Gazans, as temperatures plummet in the strip.
Makeshift temporary homes made out of metal and wood have been
created in a bid to evade Israeli restrictions on imports into the
territory.
The Catholic Relief Services told
Reuters
that the agency had built 70 temporary homes in Khan Younis, a town in
southern Gaza heavily damaged in the 50-day war, and has funding for 100
more. Forty families are reported to have moved so far, but remain in
cramped conditions.
A UNRWA spokesman told
Channel 4 News that
some material was being allowed in to the territory, but it was still
not enough. Christopher Gunness said: "We had to suspend the programme
because we ran out of cash.