The return of thousands of Gazans to their devastated neighborhoods after the ceasefire has revealed a landscape of ruin. Rebuilding homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure presents a daunting challenge, with estimates suggesting a staggering cost of $70 billion and a timeline stretching over decades.
As experts note, the scale of destruction means Gaza is not just starting from scratch, but from a foundation of rubble. Assessments indicate that a shocking 84% of the strip’s infrastructure is damaged, with some areas reaching up to 92% destruction. This has resulted in an estimated 60 million tonnes of debris that must be cleared before any reconstruction can begin.
Clearing the Rubble: A Monumental First Step
The immediate priority is the safe removal of this vast amount of debris, which, tragically, may contain human remains and unexploded ordnance. This process involves careful sorting, separation, and crushing of materials. Once cleared, the rubble can potentially be reused as a foundation for new construction, but the significant need for imported materials remains. Experts emphasize the necessity of establishing a deep-water port to facilitate the massive influx of construction supplies required for any meaningful rebuilding effort.
Restoring Essential Services: Water, Sewerage, and Power
The conflict has decimated Gaza’s critical infrastructure. Over 70% of the territory’s water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed, leading to severe water insecurity and public health risks, including the potential for diseases like cholera. Wastewater treatment plants, vital for preventing contamination, have also suffered extensive damage, with some being repeatedly targeted.
The power grid is also in a critical state. Frequent blackouts were common even before the war, and since October 2023, Gaza has faced near-total electricity outages due to severed external supplies. The Gaza Power Plant is inoperable due to a lack of fuel, and the few solar facilities that remain have sustained widespread damage. Rebuilding the power infrastructure alone is estimated to cost over $494 million, with much of the distribution network destroyed.
Housing and Agriculture: Decades of Reconstruction Ahead
The impact on housing has been catastrophic, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of homes and apartments have been damaged or destroyed. Satellite imagery starkly illustrates the widespread devastation, particularly in areas like Gaza City, where entire neighborhoods have been flattened. Experts predict that reconstructing Gaza’s housing could take decades, referencing past reconstruction efforts that were slow due to restrictions on building materials.
The agricultural sector has also been heavily impacted, with vast tracts of crops and trees destroyed. This destruction, combined with aid restrictions, has exacerbated severe food insecurity. Clearing agricultural land of unexploded ordnance is a critical, urgent step to allow for any recovery and self-sufficiency.
Education: Rebuilding for the Future
With a significant portion of Gaza’s population being under 18, the rebuilding of educational facilities is paramount for the region’s future. Many school buildings, which served as shelters during the conflict, have been damaged or destroyed. Reports indicate that over 91% of school buildings will require extensive reconstruction or major rehabilitation to become functional again. Even higher education institutions have been demolished, highlighting the deep societal impact of the conflict.
Further Reading:
- US plays down claims Hamas is violating ceasefire deal over hostage remains
- US campus activists relieved – and anxious – after Gaza ceasefire deal
- Watch: Freed detainee finds family alive after thinking they had been killed
- Who are the released hostages?
- Months after fall of Assad, families of Syria’s missing still seeking justice
- Dozens in court over alleged support of Palestine Action
- UN humanitarian chief urges Israel to open more crossings into Gaza