The ongoing war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023. This war has caused very serious problems for Palestinians. Their infrastructure, health system, education, transport, economy, job market – everything has been destroyed. Several talks for a permanent ceasefire have happened, but nothing fruitful has been obtained yet. Almost 39,000 Palestinians have been killed and 90,000 have been injured, while more than 75% of the population has been displaced and is living without homes.
In spite of all this, a UN report has disclosed that rebuilding Gaza will take decades and require immense levels of effort along with billions in funds. In May, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said rebuilding homes in Gaza destroyed during the war could take until 2040 in the most optimistic scenario, with total reconstruction across the territory costing as much as $40bn.
It is too early to say how much it will cost to rebuild Gaza as the destruction is continuing. However, according to Rami Alazzeh of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), “It will take decades and the will of the international community to fund tens of billions of dollars of investments to reconstruct Gaza.”
According to Abdallah al-Dardari, the director of the UN Development Programme Regional Bureau for Arab States, “Imagine if there’s a ceasefire tomorrow. We will need six more months at least to have a plan and start implementing. Those six months will be very dangerous.”
The health system is also on the verge of chaos. Malnutrition, dehydration, and access to basic health facilities are denied to Palestinian citizens.
