Many trapped after building collapses in Gaza City, civil defence says

The civil defence agency in Gaza on Thursday reported that many people were trapped after a building collapsed on its residents in the Al-Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City.

“There are still people trapped under the rubble,” said the civil defence.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) said that tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians are living in severely damaged and unsafe buildings. 

The UN agency said that most of its facilities in Gaza City have “sustained heavy damage” from two years of Israeli attacks. 

"Many other facilities that Palestinians are taking shelter in across the Strip are also severely damaged and unsafe,” Unrwa said.

“Returning families also face the risk of unexploded ordnance,” it warned.

Unrwa on Tuesday said that around 75,000 displaced people are sheltering in more than 100 agency buildings in Gaza, most of which are overcrowded.