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Tens of millions of tonnes of rubble left in Gaza as homes have been flattened, report reveals

January 13, 2025 at 11:28 am

An aerial view of Palestinian residents conducting a search and rescue operation amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings after Israeli army attacked Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of Gaza Strip, Gaza on November 07, 2024. [Ali Jadallah – Anadolu Agency]

Tens of millions of tonnes of rubble has been left in Gaza as a result of Israel’s destruction of neighborhoods, cities and housing complexes since October 2023, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing has said.

The report indicated that clearing this rubble is a critical first step towards the reconstruction of Gaza. This process involves not only dismantling hazardous structures but also reinforcing damaged buildings and ensuring the safety of surrounding areas during demolition operations.

Following a comprehensive assessment of the aftermath caused by the Israeli aggression, officials stressed that local machinery is insufficient for debris removal since much of it has been damaged or destroyed during air strikes targeting government, municipal and civil facilities.

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As such, there is an urgent need for the entry of heavy machinery into the Strip to facilitate cleanup efforts.

As  more than 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israel during its bombing campaign, the ministry proposed two key interventions to help with the housing crisis; providing temporary shelters through mobile units (caravans) placed near existing residential areas alongside essential infrastructure services like water supplies and sanitation facilities.

While also offering financial assistance as rental allowances to help families secure interim accommodation within their communities.

The Government Media Office in Gaza recently revealed that the Israeli aggression has fully destroyed over 161,600 housing units while partially damaging another 194,000 structures; approximately 82,000 homes have been rendered uninhabitable.

Overall destruction across Gaza has reached an unprecedented level, with an estimated at 88 per cent of the Strip in ruins; a direct economic loss of approximately  $37 billion.

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