LOC16:27
13:27 GMT
GENEVA, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) confirmed on Tuesday that the greatest challenge facing early recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip is the unprecedented scale of destruction estimating that the war has produced around 55 million tons of debris.
UNDP reported that according to the Joint Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) conducted jointly by the United Nations the European Union and the World Bank the cost of reconstructing Gaza is estimated at USD 70 billion with USD 20 billion dollars required within the first three years.
Speaking from Jerusalem during a press conference in Geneva the Special Representative of the UNDP Administrator for the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People Jaco Cilliers said the extent of destruction in Gaza is catastrophic with about 425.000 housing units destroyed or damaged representing 84 percent of all buildings in the Strip and rising to 92 percent in certain northern areas.
Cilliers noted that the UNDP has already removed approximately 81.000 tons of debris equivalent to 3.100 truckloads and is currently focusing on clearing main roads to allow humanitarian access cleaning hospitals and social service facilities and recycling 13.200 tons of rubble to pave roads and build foundations for temporary shelters.
He explained that debris removal operations face serious humanitarian challenges as three bodies were discovered during the work stressing that the United Nations applies strict international procedures in cooperation with the Palestinian Civil Defense and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to handle such cases respectfully and safely.
Cilliers warned that unexploded remnants of war remain a major hazard for both relief teams and civilians adding that the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in cooperation with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is working to identify map and mark contaminated areas.
He explained that the recovery plan proceeds in three phases the first focusing on debris removal from lower-risk zones such as roads hospitals and service areas while preparations are under way to expand field teams once security conditions improve.
Cilliers also announced that there are positive indications from Arab donors international institutions and European partners in addition to the United States' commitment to support early reconstruction efforts. He also stated that private sector participation could contribute up to 50 percent of the total reconstruction cost in the long term.
Cilliers emphasized that reviving Gaza's private sector is a top priority noting that the UNDP in collaboration with other UN agencies is working to revitalize local economic activity by rehabilitating bakeries providing grants and microloans and supporting youth entrepreneurship to generate employment opportunities and stimulate economic recovery.
He stressed that recovery and reconstruction will be a long-term process that could span a decade or more expressing hope that a sustainable ceasefire will facilitate the entry of heavy equipment and essential materials needed to begin the full reconstruction phase.
For his part spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Christian Cardon warned that weapon contamination presents a major obstacle to both searching for human remains under the rubble and launching reconstruction projects stressing that ICRC weapon contamination experts are working alongside UNDP and other agencies to locate and secure hazardous sites
Cardon announced that the ICRC has launched new operations for the dignified management of human remains explaining that forensic experts are being deployed to identify the deceased and to ensure that their remains are treated respectfully.
He said that ICRC is providing body bags and refrigerated vehicles to assist in these sensitive operations and to help ensure that families can obtain information about their missing loved ones as soon as possible.
Cardon announced also that the ICRC has resumed its presence in Gaza City after suspending operations since October first.
Cardon confirmed that during the most recent exchange 20 hostages were handed over to the ICRC and subsequently transferred to the Israeli occupation authorities while 1.809 Palestinian hostages were released through the ICRC and returned to the West Bank East Jerusalem and Gaza. He added that this brings the total since October 2023 to 172 Israeli hostages and 3.473 Palestinian hostages released in addition to the transfer of the remains of four deceased Israeli hostages. (end)
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