Gaza recovery cost estimated at $71.4bn after two years of war

Gaza will need an estimated $71.4bn over 10 years to recover from more than two years of war, according to a damage assessment cited in a new joint report. The report by Oxfam, the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute and the Palestine Trade Centre says reconstruction must be led with direct Palestinian involvement, rather than imposed by outside actors.

The April Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment by the United Nations, European Union and World Bank put total damage and economic losses in Gaza at $57.9bn. It estimated that $26.3bn would be needed in the first 18 months to restore basic services, repair critical infrastructure and restart economic activity.

Oxfam said the overall rebuilding bill is seven times the combined cost of reconstruction after Israeli military offensives in Gaza over the past two decades. The joint report also said human development in Gaza has been pushed back by 77 years.

Damage to homes, schools and hospitals

According to the report and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the war has killed at least 73,000 Palestinians, injured 173,000 and displaced 1.9 million people. The same figures show wide damage across housing, education and healthcare.

• 371,888 housing units have been damaged or destroyed.
• About 66 million tonnes of rubble must be cleared.
• More than 50,000 people need long-term rehabilitation.
• 83 percent of people with disabilities had to leave behind assistive devices.
• More than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents.
• 55 percent of hospitals are not functioning.
• 93 percent of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

The report also points to the loss of mosques, museums and other cultural sites as damage beyond physical infrastructure. It says the destruction has affected Gaza’s social and cultural life as well as its economy.

Rubble clearance could take years

Before major rebuilding can start, the report says Gaza must deal with an estimated 66 million tonnes of debris. OCHA and the report say the rubble has blocked access across neighbourhoods and has left many people with disabilities unable to move safely through affected areas.

The debris is also believed to contain unexploded bombs and shells, creating risks for clearance teams and residents. The report says damaged buildings may release asbestos and other hazardous material, while sewage, medical waste and industrial chemicals have added environmental dangers.

An estimated 8,000 to 11,000 Palestinians are believed to be buried beneath the rubble, according to the report. It says remains must be recovered and identified before large-scale rebuilding can proceed.

Four phases proposed

The joint report sets out a five-year, four-stage plan that it says should keep Palestinians at the centre of decision-making while working with the EU, Gulf Arab states, Egypt, the UN and other international agencies.

The first phase, costed at about $10bn, would focus on emergency relief and stabilisation, including humanitarian access, fuel, water, healthcare, shelter, communications, urgent rubble clearance and recovery of human remains. It would prioritise women-headed households, disabled people, injured people, older people and caregivers.

The second phase, estimated at about $15bn, would repair homes, clinics, schools, roads, energy systems and water and sanitation services while restoring banking, payments and market access. The third phase, costed at about $25bn, would rebuild housing, hospitals, schools, transport, municipal services and productive assets.

The final phase, estimated at about $20bn, would focus on longer-term development, trade and transferring recovery into Palestinian hands, according to the report. It would also support women’s economic participation.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.