Over $71 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, say UN, EU
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- A joint EU-UN assessment estimates that over $71 billion is needed for Gaza's recovery and reconstruction over the next decade.
- The assessment highlights unprecedented loss of life and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis due to over two years of war.
- Physical infrastructure damage is estimated at $35.2 billion, with economic and social losses at $22.7 billion, pushing human development back by 77 years.
The scale of devastation in Gaza, following years of conflict, demands an urgent and comprehensive international response. A recent EU-UN assessment paints a stark picture, estimating a staggering $71.4 billion required for recovery and reconstruction over the next decade. This figure underscores the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and the unprecedented loss of life the Palestinian territory has endured.
Recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at around $71.4 billion.
The assessment, developed in coordination with the World Bank, details the immense physical damage, with infrastructure losses alone reaching $35.2 billion. Compounding this is $22.7 billion in economic and social losses, a consequence of the relentless Israeli military offensive that followed the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The report chillingly notes that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77 years, a testament to the profound and lasting impact of the conflict.
Physical infrastructure damages are estimated at $35.2 billion, with economic and social losses amounting to $22.7 billion.
From our perspective, this assessment is not merely a financial accounting of destruction; it is a call to action. While international bodies provide these figures, the reality on the ground—millions displaced, homes destroyed, and essential services crippled—requires immediate and sustained support. The figures, considered reliable by the UN and based on data from the Hamas-run health ministry, reflect the dire situation faced by the people of Gaza. The international community must translate these assessments into tangible aid and a commitment to a lasting peace that prevents such devastation from recurring.
The scale and extent of deprivation across living conditions, livelihoods/income, food security, gender equality, and social inclusion, have pushed back human development in the Gaza Strip by 77 years.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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