Staff Reports
In a staggering scene that resembles a post-apocalyptic movie, Gaza is currently buried under a heavy load of rubble weighing a whopping 68 million tons. To put that into perspective, that’s the same weight as about 186 Empire State Buildings. If all that debris were evenly spread across Manhattan, every single square foot would be weighed down by roughly 250 pounds of destruction. The devastation comes from thousands of Israeli air strikes and intense ground fighting, resulting in the destruction of about 81% of the structures in Gaza. This catastrophic fallout has left nearly 123,000 buildings in ruins, with an additional 74,000 suffering damage.
Yet, it’s not just concrete and brick churning in this grim mix. Buried beneath the debris are remnants of unexploited bombs, missiles, artillery shells, and tragically, human remains. It’s estimated that around 10,000 bodies are still trapped under the collapsed buildings, a haunting reminder of the human cost of conflict. So, how long will it take to clean up this enormous mess? Experts believe it could take several years, depending largely on whether the current ceasefire holds and if Israel permits the entry of heavy machinery to safely navigate the treacherous surroundings.
The situation on the ground is nothing short of dire. Many Palestinians are now living in cramped tents surrounded by walls of debris. As winter sets in, their plight has worsened with heavy rains flooding the makeshift camps. Alongside the struggle for shelter and safety, injured children and adults are frequent victims of leftover explosives, adding to the ongoing tragedy that medical professionals and humanitarian groups are desperately trying to address.
Reconstruction efforts will not be cheap. The United Nations has estimated that rebuilding Gaza could cost approximately $70 billion. There is a glimmer of hope, as the United States is looking towards Arab Gulf states for financial contributions to share the burden of this immense expense. However, with the intricate political landscape in play, it remains unclear who will take on the hefty financial responsibility of the reconstruction.
For Gaza, the road to recovery is long, complex, and costly. While rebuilding infrastructure may take years, the emotional and psychological toll of this conflict will last even longer. The families affected need not only homes but also healing and support to recover from the scars left behind. As efforts begin to address both the physical and emotional remnants of this devastation, it is clear that Gazans face a monumental task ahead, one that the world cannot afford to ignore.
