Sawt Falasteen - At least $53 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, UN estimates

The global body said in a report that a "political and security framework" must also be put in place so that recovery and rebuilding can begin, and a groundwork can be laid for a political process to quickly end the Israeli occupation "and establish a viable two-State solution."

Much of Gaza -- including schools, hospitals and other civic infrastructure -- has been reduced to rubble by a withering Israeli military offensive following an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

"The interim assessment offers an early indication of the enormous scale of recovery and reconstruction needs in the Gaza Strip," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the document, cautioning that it was not a full assessment.

"The report estimates the recovery and reconstruction needs in the short, medium and long term across the Gaza Strip at $53.142 billion. Of these, the near-term needs in the first three years are estimated to be around $20.568 billion," he added.

In a resolution adopted in December calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, the UN General Assembly had asked Guterres to provide an assessment of the territory's needs within two months.

The report assessed that with "over 60 percent of homes" destroyed in the year-plus war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, the housing sector requires around $15.2 billion.

The commerce and industry sector will need an estimated $6.9 billion, as will the health sector, according to the report.

Reviving the agricultural industry will take around $4.2 billion, transport will require $2.9 billion, water and sanitation an estimated $2.7 billion and education $2.6 billion.

The report also noted the particularly high costs of $1.9 billion anticipated for the environmental sector "as a result of the massive debris laced with unexploded ordnance and the high cost associated with removal of debris."

The United Nations has estimated that the war has generated more than 50 million tons of debris, including human remains, unexploded ordnance, asbestos and other hazardous substances.

"Critically, the Palestinian Authority must be at the center of planning for and the implementation of recovery and reconstruction in Gaza," Guterres said in the report, which was dated January 30.

That was days before US President Donald Trump said he wanted to "take over" Gaza, redevelop the territory and oust the more than two million Palestinians living there.

His plan has prompted a global backlash and has been rejected by Palestinians.

I.Matar--SF-PST