Report finds Gaza needs more than $71bn in next decade for recovery

Devastated sectors in Palestinian enclave include housing, health, education, commerce and agriculture, EU and UN find.More than $71bn will be needed over the next 10 years for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza after Israel’s genocidal war on the territory, a new report says.In their final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), released on Monday, the European Union and United Nations asserted that the conflict has had a “catastrophic impact on human development” and left the enclave desperately in need of huge sums of money in the immediate future.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israeli forces kill Palestinians in Gaza, raid occupied West Bank homeslist 2 of 4‘Waiting without answers’: Gaza mother’s fear for her three imprisoned sonslist 3 of 4Israel says established a ‘yellow line’ in Lebanon, as it has in Gazalist 4 of 4The EU must not wait till Israel starts executing Palestiniansend of listThe report found that $26.3bn will be required in the first 18 months of Gaza’s reconstruction to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure and support its economic recovery.“Physical infrastructure damages are estimated at $35.2 billion, with economic and social losses amounting to $22.7 billion,” a joint statement by the report’s sponsors said.Gaza is under a fragile “ceasefire” that was agreed in October. The agreement, which the Israeli military is accused of repeatedly breaching, followed two years of devastating conflict sparked by the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.The Israeli response – widely condemned for having quickly morphed into an attempt to eradicate Gaza’s 2.3 million people – has killed more than 72,500 people, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.At least 777 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, according to the ministry, with 32 killings occurring since the start of April alone. The victims include Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Wishah, who was killed in a drone strike west of Gaza City on April 8.