The reconstruction of homes in the Gaza Strip could drag on into the next century if the pace follows the trend of previous conflicts, according to a UN report released this Thursday (2).
Nearly seven months of Israeli bombings have caused billions of dollars in damage, leaving many of the crowded strip's tall concrete buildings reduced to ruins, with one UN official referring to a “moonscape” of destruction.
Palestinian data shows that around 80,000 homes have been destroyed in a conflict sparked by deadly attacks by Hamas fighters in southern Israel on October 7. Israeli attacks have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
According to the assessment, released by the United Nations Development Programme, Gaza needs “approximately 80 years to restore all completely destroyed housing units”.
However, in a best-case scenario, in which construction materials are delivered five times faster than in the last crisis, in 2021, this could be done by 2040, according to the report.
The UNDP assessment makes a series of projections about the socioeconomic impact of the war based on the duration of the current conflict, projecting decades of continued suffering.
“Unprecedented levels of human loss, destruction of capital and sharp increase in poverty in such a short period of time will precipitate a serious development crisis that will jeopardize the future of generations to come,” UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement .
In a scenario where the war lasts nine months, poverty is expected to increase from 38.8% of Gaza's population at the end of 2023 to 60.7%, dragging a large part of the middle class below the poverty line, according to the report.
Source: CNN Brasil
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