The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed that the estimated cost of rebuilding the Gaza Strip is around $70 billion, given the widespread destruction caused by the recent war, which the programme described as unprecedented in the history of modern conflicts.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the programme explained that the scale of destruction in the Strip requires unprecedented international efforts in terms of both funding and technical capabilities. They also noted that the reconstruction process will be long and complex given the massive destruction that has affected almost all buildings in various areas of the Strip.

The UNDP official noted that there are currently ‘very good indicators’ regarding the financing of the reconstruction process. Several Arab countries, along with European partners and the United States, have expressed their willingness to provide support and contribute to international efforts to rebuild Gaza.

Rebuilding Gaza means shifting 55 million tonnes of rubble

The report indicated that the volume of rubble in the Strip is estimated at no less than 55 million tonnes, which represents a huge challenge for removal and reconstruction teams and requires enormous human and technical resources to deal with this amount of debris before new construction can begin.

Regarding the expected timeframe, the programme explained that the reconstruction of Gaza could take a decade or more, and possibly extend to several decades given the extent of the destruction. They also stressed that the success of the process depends on stable security and political conditions, the availability of sustainable funding and continued international support.

The programme concluded its statement by emphasising that Gaza is facing one of the greatest humanitarian and urban disasters in the modern world, calling on the international community to shoulder its historic responsibility to support the Palestinian people and help them rebuild their lives after long months of destruction and suffering.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

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