Brussels, April 20 (SANA) The European Union and the United Nations on Monday issued the final damage and needs assessment for the Gaza Strip following the Israeli war, estimating that recovery and reconstruction will require $71.4 billion over the next ten years.
According to the report, prepared in cooperation with the World Bank, around $26.3 billion will be needed during the first 18 months to restore essential services, rehabilitate critical infrastructure and support economic recovery.
The assessment said physical damage to infrastructure reached approximately $35.2 billion, while economic and social losses were estimated at $22.7 billion.
It added that housing, health, education, trade and agriculture were among the sectors most heavily affected, while around 1.9 million people were displaced.
The report said successful recovery efforts require several key conditions, foremost among them a sustained ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, freedom of movement for people, goods and construction materials, and a transparent and effective financial system.
It stressed that recovery and reconstruction efforts must be Palestinian-led, and should support governance transition to the Palestinian Authority, alongside progress toward a lasting political settlement based on the two-state solution.
The report said long-term regional stability requires rebuilding Gaza both physically and institutionally, while supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state that guarantees the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
According to figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry, the death toll from the ongoing Israeli occupation war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has risen to 72,553, with 172,296 injured.
Kh.A
