UN Estimates Gaza Rubble Removal Could Take a Decade

The United Nations estimates that clearing the estimated 61 million tons of debris and waste in the Gaza Strip could take between seven and ten years and cost billions of dollars, making it one of the largest reconstruction operations in modern history. This amount of destruction is reportedly 20 times greater than all global destruction from wars in the past 18 years.

Ahmed Elian, an engineer with the World Food Programme (WFP) involved in clearing Beirut Street, described the task to The Guardian as feeling like "holding a spoon and trying to empty the sea." Operations are complicated by the presence of buried human remains, estimated by experts to be between 8,000 and 10,000 bodies, as well as unexploded ordnance and hazardous materials like asbestos. Aid organizations are working with the Red Cross to identify sensitive sites.

Israeli authorities prohibit the import of construction equipment due to concerns about Hamas repurposing it, forcing engineers to improvise with locally sourced materials. To date, approximately 907,000 tons of debris, only about 1.5% of the total, have been cleared. Over 300,000 tons of this cleared material are being recycled at five sites for road repairs and tent bases.

Clearing routes has helped resume some business activity and reopen shops in evacuated areas. However, limited access, currently restricted to about 30% of the Strip due to deployment lines, continues to hinder efforts.