Gaza development put back 60 years by war: UNDP chief

Decades of development in Gaza have been wiped out in the aftermath of a 15-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, with the United Nations estimating that rebuilding efforts will require tens of billions of dollars.

Around two-thirds of all buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leaving over 2 million residents without access to basic infrastructure, Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, told AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

FILE: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 29, 2022.

“We estimate that roughly 60 years of development have been lost in this conflict,” Steiner said. “The economy is destroyed, and people have lost not only their shelter but essential services like sewage systems and clean water.”

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in effect since Sunday, has allowed humanitarian aid to flow into the region.

However, Steiner emphasized that reconstructing Gaza’s infrastructure and economy will take years and face significant financial and logistical hurdles.

Reconstruction challenges

Steiner outlined the monumental tasks ahead: removing 42 million tons of rubble, some of which contain unexploded ordnance, and addressing the massive economic losses.

The rebuilding of public infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and waste management systems, will take decades, he said.

A drone view shows Palestinian women walking amid the rubble of destroyed houses and buildings, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 22, 2025.Reuters

“It’s not just physical reconstruction. People’s savings, loans, and businesses have been wiped out. We’re talking about rebuilding lives, economies, and even psychological well-being,” Steiner said.

The immediate focus remains on life-saving aid, but Steiner stressed the importance of long-term solutions. “This is not a one or two-year effort—it’s a generational challenge,” he said.

A daunting financial burden

The UN estimates that reconstruction costs will run into “tens of billions of dollars,” making financial mobilization a critical hurdle.

While temporary solutions, such as clearing rubble into deposits and recycling materials, are underway, the scale of destruction remains daunting.

“Virtually every school and every hospital has been either severely damaged or destroyed,” Steiner said. “It’s an extraordinary level of physical devastation.”

As Gaza faces an uphill battle, Steiner warned that the true toll of the conflict extends beyond statistics, encapsulating the human desperation of millions who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and access to basic needs.