UN Report Reveals StaggeringDestruction, Unprecedented, SinceWWII in Gaza, Urges International Action

The United Nations has released a scathing report condemning the devastating impact of Israel's six-month war on the Gaza Strip. The report, published by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), warns that the suffering in Gaza will persist long after the war ends due to thedestruction, unprecedentedinflicted on the occupied territory's population, housing stock, and economy.

Why this matters: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has far-reaching implications for regional stability and global security, and the international community's response will set a precedent for addressing similar conflicts. The devastating impact on Gaza's economy and infrastructure will have long-term consequences for the Palestinian people, exacerbating the existing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and potentially fueling further violence.

Abdallah Al Dardari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's regional office for the Arab states, described the damage caused by Israel as "huge and unprecedented," likening it to the destruction seen during World War II. Al Dardari estimated that the years, needed, reconstruction of Gaza could take 80 years and cost up to $40 billion. "The scale of the destruction is such that the required assistance to rebuild would be on a scale not seen since 1948," the UN report stated.

The report highlights the staggering human toll of the war. As of April 12, Israeli forces have killed or injured 5% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people, with thousands more missing, including many believed to be buried under the rubble of decimated infrastructure. Over 34,622 Palestinians have been killed and 77,867 injured since the war began on October 7.

Thehomes, rebuild, reportof Gaza's housing infrastructure is particularly severe, with 72% of residential buildings either completely or partially destroyed over the past seven months. Gaza now lies buried beneath 37 million tons of rubble, a mind-boggling figure compared to the 2.4 million tons of debris left after Israel's 2014 assault. At the current pace of reconstruction, it would take an estimated 80 years to rebuild all the homes destroyed in the war.

The war has also had a devastating impact on Gaza's economy and social fabric. The unemployment rate for Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza surged to roughly 46% from about 26% after six months of war. Poverty rates more than doubled, pushing an additional 1.67 million Palestinians into poverty. The report warns that if the war continues for another two months, it will leave 1.86 million people in poverty and set back Gaza's progress in life expectancy, education, and gross national income growth by more than 20 years.

UN officials have called for urgentglobal, effort, unprecedented, reconstructionto address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. "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,"warned Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. Rola Dashti, ESCWA Executive Secretary, cautioned that"this assessment projects that Gaza will be rendered fully dependent on external assistance on a scale not seen since 1948, as it will be left without a functional economy or any means of production, self-sustainment, employment, or capacity for trade."

The UN report underscores the immense scale of destruction wrought by Israel's six-month war on Gaza and the long-term consequences for the Palestinian people. With over a third of Gaza's population killed, injured, or displaced, and the majority of its buildings and infrastructure reduced to rubble, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. As the death toll continues to mount and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and bring an end to the bloodshed.

Key Takeaways

• UN report condemns Israel's 6-month war on Gaza, warns of long-term devastation.
• Reconstruction of Gaza could take 80 years and cost up to $40 billion.
• 5% of Gaza's population killed or injured, 72% of homes destroyed.
• Unemployment rate surged to 46%, poverty rates more than doubled.
• UN officials call for urgent global effort to address humanitarian catastrophe.