DaysofPal- Head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner, stated that nearly two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged due to the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip.
Removing 42 million tons of rubble is a “dangerous and complex process,” he said.
Steiner added, “It is likely that between 65% and 70% of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged. But we are also talking about an economy that has been devastated, with we estimate that around 60 years of development have been lost in this war over 15 months.”
Speaking in an interview with AFP on the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum, Steiner highlighted that the 15-month-long Israeli war on Gaza has erased six decades of development.
He warned that raising the tens of billions of dollars needed for reconstruction will be a significant challenge.
2 Million People Lost Their Homes
Achim Steiner explained that “two million people living in Gaza have not only lost their homes but also public infrastructure, sewage treatment systems, drinking water supply networks, and waste management systems.”
He emphasized that “all of this vital infrastructure and essential services simply no longer exist,” adding that while the numbers are staggering, the “despair among the people cannot simply be captured in statistics.”
Steiner highlighted that the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, along with its “volatile nature,” makes it difficult to predict how long the reconstruction process will take. For now, the United Nations is prioritizing emergency aid over long-term reconstruction efforts.
“When we talk about reconstruction, we are not about one or two years. This process will take many years before the physical infrastructure and the entire economy can be rebuilt,” Steiner said.
He also noted that “people once had savings. They had loans. The destruction has left many with nothing, compounding the challenges ahead.”
Enormous challenges of Gaza’s reconstruction
“They invested in businesses. All of that has been lost. So, we are not only talking about the physical and economic phases of reconstruction but also, in many ways, the psychological and social aspects.”
He estimated that the physical reconstruction phase alone would cost “tens of billions of dollars,” adding, “We are facing enormous difficulty in raising these amounts.”
The extraordinary destruction has resulted in an immense volume of rubble that must be removed and recycled, posing significant challenges.
“This is not a simple process of loading the rubble and transporting it somewhere,” Steiner explained. “The debris is dangerous—there may still be bodies that have not been recovered, and there are unexploded munitions and landmines.”
The scale of devastation underscores the complexity and risks involved in the recovery process, highlighting the monumental task ahead for Gaza’s rebuilding efforts.
Temporary Solutions are Urgently Needed
Steiner added, “There is the option of recycling. These materials can be recycled and used in the reconstruction process.” He noted that a temporary solution involves transporting the rubble to landfills and temporary storage sites, where it can later be processed or permanently disposed of.
“In the meantime, if the truce holds, there will be a massive need for temporary infrastructure,” Steiner stated.
He emphasized, “Almost all schools and hospitals have been severely damaged or destroyed. What has happened is extraordinary devastation.”
Official Palestinian data reveals that the conflict has led to the destruction of over 200 government facilities, 136 schools and universities, 823 mosques, and three churches.
UN and Amnesty Reports Highlight Devastation in Gaza
A UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report revealed that many hospitals were destroyed during the aggression, leaving only 17 out of 36 health units partially operational as of January.
Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab highlighted the scale of destruction along Gaza’s eastern border. By May 2024, more than 90% of the buildings in this area, including over 3,500 structures, were either destroyed or severely damaged.
On Wednesday, the Union of Gaza Municipalities launched an initiative called the “Phoenix Gaza” plan, aimed at rebuilding the sector after the Israeli genocidal war that devastated all aspects of life over more than 15 months, leaving behind unprecedented destruction.
Gaza’s Reconstruction Plan
Yahya al-Sarraj, the Mayor of Gaza City and head of the Union of Gaza Municipalities, stated in a press conference that the “Phoenix Gaza” plan represents a framework that will guide the reconstruction of Gaza in the coming period. He explained that the plan was developed by experts from within Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and several external experts.
Al-Sarraj added that the plan combines swift humanitarian response with establishing the foundations for sustainability, aiming to strengthen Gaza’s resilience in the long term. He noted that the plan included urgent interventions during the war and after the ceasefire.
The mayor emphasized that the plan focuses on rebuilding while preserving Gaza’s historical identity and enhancing its capacity for a sustainable future. He highlighted that the plan is based on community partnership, ensuring that everyone is involved in both the implementation and planning processes.
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