Over $71bn ‘needed over next decade to rebuild Gaza’

- More than two years of war causing catastrophic humanitarian crisis: EU-UN assessment GENEVA: More than $71 billion will be needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction in war-ravaged Gaza, according to an EU-UN assessment published on Monday. In their final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, or RDNA, the UN and the EU said that more than two years of war in the Palestinian territory “has led to unprecedented loss of life and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.” “Recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at around $71.4 billion,” said the assessment, developed in coordination with the World Bank. Much of Gaza — including schools, hospitals, and other civic infrastructure — has been reduced to rubble by a withering Israeli military offensive following the unprecedented Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The final assessment determined that $26.3 billion would be required in the first 18 months to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure, and support economic recovery. “Physical infrastructure damages are estimated at $35.2 billion, with economic and social losses amounting to $22.7 billion,” a joint statement said. According to the RDNA, some 371,888 housing units have been destroyed or damaged, more than 50 percent of hospitals in the territory are non-functional, and nearly all schools have been destroyed or damaged. At the same time, 1.9 million people — nearly Gaza’s entire population — have been displaced, often multiple times, and more than 60 percent of the population had lost their homes, the assessment found. Gaza’s economy has contracted by 84 percent, it said. “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,” the assessment said.