Gaza Rebuilding Efforts Hinge on Occupation Ending, According to UN Expert

Strategic Insights -

A United Nations housing expert has predicted that it would take 80 years to rebuild the Gaza Strip if the occupation continues its aggression. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN independent investigator on the right to adequate housing, noted that the Strip has been subjected to an unprecedented level of destruction since Israel launched its attack on October 7 last year. The expert emphasized that the rebuilding efforts are heavily reliant on the occupation ending, as the ongoing restrictions on construction materials and equipment imposed by Israel are severely hindering the progress. The situation in Gaza is dire, with between 60 and 70 percent of homes destroyed, and in northern Gaza, the destruction rate is close to 100 percent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Gaza Strip would require 80 years to rebuild if the occupation continues its aggression, according to Balakrishnan Rajagopal, a UN independent investigator on the right to adequate housing.
  • As of January 2024, between 60 and 70 percent of homes in Gaza had been destroyed, with northern Gaza experiencing a destruction rate close to 100 percent.
  • A recent UNDP report estimated that as of May 2024, there were more than 39 million tons of debris in Gaza, mixed with unexploded ordnance, toxic waste, asbestos from collapsed buildings, and other materials.
  • The removal of rubble is a critical first step in rebuilding, but finding sufficient funding and reconstruction cannot be done until the occupation ends.
  • Israel's restrictions on construction materials and equipment have severely hindered the rebuilding efforts, with less than 1,000 homes being built each year since the 2014 war in Gaza.
  • The expert warned that the groundwater pollution and soil contamination in Gaza are catastrophic and may not be remedied in time for people to move back within this generation.

Statistics:

  • 80 years forecasted to rebuild the Gaza Strip if the occupation continues its aggression.
  • 60-70 percent of homes in Gaza destroyed as of January 2024.
  • 82 percent of homes destroyed in northern Gaza as of January 2024.
  • 39 million tons of debris in Gaza as of May 2024 (UNDP report).
  • Less than 1,000 homes built each year in Gaza since the 2014 war.
  • Groundwater pollution and soil contamination in Gaza deemed catastrophic.

Sources:

  • Jordan News Agency, 19 October 2024
  • Official UN Website