The ongoing war and widespread destruction have led to a critical shortage of usable real estate in northern Gaza. Over eighty percent of the buildings in the area have been severely damaged or completely destroyed. Consequently, remaining property owners demand exorbitant rents that local professionals can no longer afford. Dental practitioners are now forced to set up temporary medical tents in alleyways to treat patients.
Operating inside improvised canvas structures presents severe working conditions, including extreme heat, lack of space, and security issues. Frequent power outages further disrupt essential medical procedures and emergency dental treatments. Despite these severe obstacles, operating in makeshift tents remains the only viable financial option for health workers. This setup allows practitioners to keep treatment prices lower for impoverished residents.
Severe financial constraints force local patients to make painful healthcare choices. Many individuals cannot afford restorative treatments like tooth fillings due to the inflated cost of imported medical supplies. Instead, patients often request permanent tooth extractions simply because it is the cheapest way to relieve physical pain.
In conclusion, the destruction of infrastructure and sky-high rental prices have forced health professionals to adapt in improvised street tents, illustrating how extreme economic hardship directly restricts access to basic healthcare.
Abo Aisha, N. (2026, September 3). Israel’s siege on Gaza is forcing dentists to operate in the streets. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/9/3/gaza-housing-dentists