The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that clearing the vast of rubble in Gaza could take up to seven years at the current pace, as the overwhelming majority of residents continue to live in what it describes as extremely dangerous conditions.
Speaking during a virtual briefing from Jerusalem following a recent visit to the Gaza Strip, UNDP chief Alexander De Croo said the humanitarian situation was the worst he had witnessed in his years of development work.
“This is the worst living conditions that I have ever seen, extremely painful conditions to live in,” De Croo said, adding that “90% of the people of Gaza today live in the middle of that rubble, which is extremely dangerous.”
He said UNDP’s recovery efforts are focused on three main priorities, beginning with debris and solid waste removal.
“Rubble removal, we have done approximately 0.5% of the total,” De Croo said. “At the current pace, it will take us seven years to remove all the rubble.”
He stressed that greater authority and capacity would be needed to accelerate debris clearance and recycling operations.
Temporary housing is the second priority, he said, noting that the vast majority of residents are living in makeshift shelters.
“90% of the population lives in what you could not even call tents. I mean, this is very, very rudimentary tents,” De Croo said.
The UNDP has so far built 500 recovery housing units and has 4,000 ready, but the needs far exceed available supply. Between 200,000 and 300,000 units are required to provide people with better living conditions, he added.
The third focus area is reviving Gaza’s private sector, much of which has been in hibernation. Recovery programmes include limited investment initiatives and cash-for-work schemes aimed at helping businesses resume operations.
To expand assistance, De Croo said the UNDP’s “one big ask to the Israeli authorities” was for greater access to allow the entry of materials, housing units and support for private enterprises. He added that Israel’s alleged security concerns should not prevent increased access for UNDP, other UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
A U.S.-backed ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since 10 October, halting Israel’s two-year war, which has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured more than 171,000 others since October 2023 according to Gaza's health ministry.
Authorities also said Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations since the ceasefire took effect, through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618 others.
Israeli authorities said that at least 4 soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began last October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, rejecting key elements of...
A deal on a new route for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "very close," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, while warning that t...
Global food commodity prices rose in July to their highest level since January 2023, driven by higher cereal, sugar and vegetable oil prices, accordin...
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resumption of commercial shipping through the sea passage and the lifting of an American naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 8th of August, covering the latest developments.
A deal on a new route for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "very close," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, while warning that the reopening of the waterway depends on the U.S. meeting other conditions, including paying compensation to Iran.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of August, covering the latest developments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is increasingly penetrating Russia's air-defence network, as both sides stepped up overnight strikes on energy, logistics and port infrastructure.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that soaring fertiliser prices could threaten Afghanistan’s 2027 wheat harvest despite favourable growing conditions, appealing for $38.3 million to support farmers before planting.
Kazakhstan has released an Amur tiger into the wild for the first time in more than 70 years, marking the beginning of a long-term effort to restore the species to its historic range in Central Asia.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked upon progress made towards normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan in a phone call on the first anniversary of the Washington peace summit.
Tourists may soon be able to view Kazakhstan’s tourist sites by drone. Officials are planning to trial flights of between five and 30 minutes over landmarks in the country, its Ministry of Transport said.
Kyrgyzstan has introduced mandatory permits for climbers attempting Victory Peak, imposing stricter safety and experience requirements following a series of fatal accidents on one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment