Satellite images analyzed by the United Nations Satellite Centre have revealed that 35% of buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed or damaged during the ongoing Israeli offensive, which has lasted for more than five months. The assessment used high-resolution images captured on February 29, comparing them with pictures taken before and after the recent conflict erupted.
The analysis concluded that approximately 89,000 buildings in Gaza, or 35% of the total, were completely destroyed or damaged. Specifically, 31,198 buildings were totally destroyed, 16,908 suffered severe damage, and 40,762 experienced moderate damage. This marks an increase of about 20,000 buildings compared to a previous assessment conducted in January, which showed 30% of buildings were affected. Khan Younis and Gaza City witnessed the most significant increase in damage, with Khan Younis alone seeing 12,279 additional buildings affected and a total of 6,663 buildings destroyed.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with extensive humanitarian and infrastructural damage reported. At least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced within Gaza, and key infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, has been severely affected, compromising essential services for over 400,000 people. The conflict has seen systematic and extensive bombing, with over 12,000 bombs dropped on Gaza, causing massive destruction. As a result, significant portions of essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water supply systems, have been destroyed or damaged, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The health system in Gaza has collapsed, with a large number of healthcare facilities out of service and numerous healthcare workers killed. The ongoing conflict has led to an urgent need for a humanitarian corridor to provide essential medical supplies and other aid to the affected population .
