By Badrul Aini Sha'ari
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- A home is more than a physical structure; it is where families build their memories, dignity and sense of security, a reality that carries deeper meaning for Palestinians amid the widespread destruction and displacement in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian official Suffiea Ibrahim said the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip was unprecedented, with more than 200,000 buildings damaged, representing an estimated 82 per cent of all buildings in the territory.
Citing the assessment by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), the Director of the Housing and Housing Conditions Statistics Department said the damage occurred between Oct 7, 2023 and June 16, 2026.
Speaking live from Palestine during Bernama’s Palestine Beyond the Headlines programme recently, the statistician said housing statistics represented the lives of families affected by the conflict.
“When we talk about housing statistics, we are really talking about families. So today, as a statistician, I would like to share a few numbers, but I would like us to remember that every number has a family behind it.
“And when we are talking about the scale of the destruction in the Gaza Strip, it is actually unprecedented,” she said on the programme’s theme, “Housing in a Time of Destruction and Displacement”.
Suffiea said approximately 328,626 housing units had been damaged, with each figure representing families whose lives had been disrupted.
“These figures are enormous. But behind every damaged housing unit, there is a human story.
“A house is more than simply a physical structure. It is where a family lives, where children grow up and where people build their sense of security and stability.
“Therefore, when we speak about more than 328,000 damaged housing units, we are also speaking about a massive destruction of family and community life,” she said at length.
Marking World Habitat Day, she said this year’s theme, “Adequate Housing for All”, highlighted a global concern, with about two billion people worldwide lacking adequate housing.
“... in Palestine, the word housing carries special weight.
“For us, a home is not just four walls and the roof. It is where mothers prepare breakfast, where children do their homework, where grandparents tell stories, and where a family keeps its memories and its dignity,” she said.
‘Palestine Beyond the Headlines’ is a weekly initiative of Bernama, the Malaysian National News agency, in collaboration with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Malaysia, to amplify the voices and stories of the Palestinian people.
Suffiea expressed her deep appreciation to the Malaysian government and its people for their continuous support and concern.
Suffiea said Malaysia’s solidarity mattered to Palestinian families who often feared the world had overlooked their plight.
“Malaysia has always stood with the Palestinian people, and I want you to know that this solidarity is felt here. It matters to families who often feared that the world has stopped looking,” she said.
-- BERNAMA