NEW YORK, An assessment by the United Nations found it would take up to 15 years to clear the almost 40 million tons of the rubble caused by Israeli attacks in Gaza, highlighting the intense challenge of rebuilding the enclave.
The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) posted on X about the staggering cost and years needed for reconstruction, saying the debris are a potential threat and “harmful”.
“Debris poses a deadly threat for people in the Gaza Strip as it can contain unexploded ordnance and harmful substances,” UNRWA said, adding that it would take more than 100 trucks to clear rubble.
According to the assessment, which was published last month by the UN Environment Program, 137,297 buildings had been damaged in Gaza, more than half of the total. Of these, just over a quarter were destroyed, about a tenth severely damaged and a third moderately damaged.
In May, the UN Development Program (UNDP) estimated that rebuilding Gaza’s homes could take until 2040.
