Gaza reconstruction could take 80 year due to unprecedented destruction: UN

Balakrishnan Rajagopal, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, has stated that Gaza has experienced "unprecedented destruction" since last October. In a statement, he noted that by January 2024, between 60 percent and 70 percent of homes in Gaza had been destroyed, with the figure reaching 82 percent in northern Gaza. "The situation is much worse now," he added, noting that the destruction in the north is nearing 100 percent. Rajagopal cited a recent UNDP report estimating that more than 39 million tonnes of debris were present in Gaza as of May this year. He explained that the rubble is mixed with unexploded ordnance, toxic waste, asbestos from collapsed buildings, and other materials. He also warned that groundwater and soil contamination in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. Rajagopal further highlighted that the reconstruction process in Gaza could take 80 years. Source: Emirates News Agency