UNITED NATIONS, October 14 (WSH) — Rebuilding Gaza after two years of devastating conflict will require an estimated $70 billion, according to UN development experts. The announcement comes amid growing concern that humanitarian aid reaching the enclave remains far below what is needed for millions of desperate Palestinians.
Massive Damage Across the Gaza Strip
Stretching only 41 kilometres in length and less than five kilometres wide, almost every part of Gaza has suffered severe destruction from continuous Israeli bombardment prior to the fragile ceasefire that took effect last Friday.
Jaco Cilliers, the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Special Representative for the Palestinians, said that overall damage in Gaza “is now around 84 percent, and in Gaza City, it has reached as high as 92 percent.”
$20 Billion Needed Immediately
Speaking from Jerusalem, Mr. Cilliers shared findings from the joint Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) conducted by the UN, European Union, and World Bank. The study estimates that at least $20 billion will be needed in the next three years to begin reconstruction efforts.
UNDP, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, continues to provide life-saving support to Gaza’s 2.1 million residents—including clean water, emergency employment, medical supplies, debris removal, and clearance of unexploded ordnance.
“So far, we’ve removed around 81,000 tonnes of rubble—about 3,100 truckloads,” Mr. Cilliers said. “Most of this work is to allow humanitarian actors to reach communities in need, while also helping hospitals and schools clear debris.”
Encouragingly, he added, several Arab States, European countries, and the United States have expressed readiness to contribute to Gaza’s recovery efforts.
Ceasefire and Humanitarian Urgency
While reconstruction planning continues, UN humanitarians are urging Israeli authorities to fully open all access points to Gaza to allow aid to flow in. The call came after the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages on Monday, as well as Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli prisons.
The releases followed a ceasefire deal signed in Sharm El-Sheikh between Hamas and Israel, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump along with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the release of hostages, noting it was two years since they were abducted during the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Life Amid Ruins
From inside Gaza, UNICEF aid worker Tess Ingram described meeting families displaced multiple times:
“I met a family—Mustafa, Syeda, and their children—who have been displaced five times. Mustafa said, ‘At least we still have a home, even if I have to dig it out of the rubble.’”
Families live in constant uncertainty, she said. “They wait anxiously for water trucks that may or may not arrive, while walking long distances for basic supplies.”
The Humanitarian Picture
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is now overseeing the transfer of deceased hostages from Gaza—a delicate and complex operation.
Meanwhile, more than 300,000 Palestinians have moved northward toward Gaza City since Friday as the ceasefire appeared to hold. Yet, as UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires warned, “The reality on the ground doesn’t yet match the optimism seen in diplomatic halls. The aid coming in is simply not enough.”
The Israeli authorities have agreed to allow 190,000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, but UN agencies insist that much more is urgently required.
“We were in Sharm El-Sheikh with 22 heads of state, pressing for stronger commitments,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Challenges in Aid Distribution
Aid organizations, including the ICRC, continue to report difficulties distributing aid safely within Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians have been injured or killed while trying to collect essential supplies.
“It’s time to ensure aid reaches the people, rather than people risking their lives to reach the aid,” said Mr. Cardon of the ICRC.
