UN Report: Rebuilding Gaza After 2023 Israeli Bombardment May Take 80 Years

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) released a disturbing report on Tuesday, revealing the devastating long-term impact of the 2023 Israeli bombardment on Gaza. The report, titled "The Gaza War: Expected Socio-Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine,"wouldtake up to 80 years to rebuild the 80,000 homes destroyed during the seven-month conflict.

Why this matters: The prolonged devastation in Gaza has far-reaching implications for regional stability and global humanitarian efforts, underscoring the need for urgent international cooperation to address the crisis. The prolonged devastation in Gaza has far-reaching implications for regional stability and global humanitarian efforts, underscoring the need for urgent international cooperation to address the crisis. The long-term consequences of this conflict will likely have a lasting impact on the lives of Palestinians and the broader Middle East, making it crucial to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

The war, which began in October 2023, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced around 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 34,500, according to local health officials. Several towns and cities have suffered vast destruction, with northern Gaza pushed to the brink of famine.

The report projects alarming figures for the region, including a significant escalation in poverty and economic downturn in the State of Palestine. The poverty rate has reached 58.4%, with nearly 1.74 million additional people thrust into poverty. If the conflict persists for nine months, poverty levels are expected to more than double, reaching 60.7%, resulting in an additional 1.86 million individuals pushed into poverty.

The State of Palestine's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has sustained a dramatic plunge of 26.9%, resulting in a loss of US$7.1 billion compared to a 2023 baseline unaffected by war. The report warns of a significant decline in the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating a setback in human development in the State of Palestine that may exceed two decades.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner emphasized the compounding costs of the ongoing war, stating, "Every additional day that this war continues is exacting huge and compounding costs to Gazans and all Palestinians, now and in the medium and long term." He added, "Unprecedented levels of human losses, capital destruction, and the steep rise in poverty in such a short period of time will precipitate a serious development crisis that jeopardizes the future of generations to come."

The Joint Interim Damage Assessment by the World Bank and the United Nations revealed substantial direct damages inflicted on Gaza's infrastructure, equivalent to 97% of the total GDP of the State of Palestine in 2022. The UNDP-ESCWA report complements these findings, providing a comprehensive overview of the socio-economic impacts of the war on the State of Palestine.

International efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza have been ongoing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pressed for a cease-fire deal, which would free hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a halt to the fighting and the delivery of much-needed food, medicine, and water into Gaza. The United States has also pressured Israel to increase aid deliveries during the war.

Israel recently reopened a border crossing with the hard-hit northern Gaza Strip for the first time since it was damaged at the start of the war, allowing for the delivery of vital supplies. However, the scale of the destruction and the long-term consequences of the conflict highlight the urgent need for coordinated efforts to support recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories.

The UNDP-ESCWA report serves as a sobering wake-up call about the immense challenges that lie ahead in rebuilding Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis. With 80,000 homes destroyed, tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, and poverty projected to reach catastrophic levels, the international community must come together to support the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the region. The reopening of the border crossing by Israel is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and pave a path towards lasting peace and stability.

Key Takeaways

• 80,000 homes destroyed in Gaza may take 80 years to rebuild.
• Death toll in Gaza surpasses 34,500, with 80% of population displaced.
• Poverty rate reaches 58.4%, with 1.74 million more Palestinians thrust into poverty.
• Gaza's GDP plummets 26.9%, resulting in a $7.1 billion loss.
• International cooperation is urgently needed to address the humanitarian crisis.