After nine months of continuous Israeli military operations in Gaza, the United Nations has disclosed that over 40 million tons of rubble now cover the Palestinian sector, according to a report published by The Guardian today.
The United Nations estimates that clearing the rubble in Gaza could take 15 years, with costs ranging between $500 million and $600 million. According to last month’s assessments by the United Nations Environment Programme, 137,297 buildings in Gaza were affected; slightly more than a quarter were completely destroyed, about a tenth suffered severe damage, and a third incurred moderate damage.
The assessment also indicates the necessity to create large dumpsites for debris, spanning 250 to 5,000 dunams, which will be used for rubble disposal.
In the most optimistic scenario, the United Nations Development Programme in May announced that the reconstruction of homes in Gaza destroyed during the conflict could continue until 2040, with total reconstruction costs across the sector potentially reaching $40 billion.
A UN official based in Gaza stated last week, “The damage to the infrastructure is massive… There isn’t a single building in Khan Younis that hasn’t been affected.”
Schools, health facilities, roads, sewage systems, and other vital infrastructures have all sustained significant damage.
The conflict erupted on October 7th following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israeli settlements, resulting in the death of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data.
Of the 251 people abducted during the attack, 116 remain detained in Gaza, with 42 reported dead, according to the military.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel vowed to eliminate the movement and launched a devastating widespread attack that has so far resulted in 38,584 deaths, mostly civilians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and created horrific destruction and catastrophic humanitarian conditions, as per the United Nations.
