GAZA,(The Palestine Foundation Pakistan)A UN Development Program (UNDP) official said Tuesday that several countries, including the United States, Canada, as well as Arab and European nations, have shown preliminary willingness to help fund the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with an estimated cost of around $70 billion.
Jaco Cilliers, a senior UNDP official, said during a press conference in Geneva that the Israeli assault on Gaza has left behind at least 55 million tons of debris and that full recovery could take decades.
“We’ve received very positive signals from a number of partners, including Europeans and Canada, and there are also ongoing discussions with the United States about participating in reconstruction efforts,” Cilliers added.
Since the ceasefire agreement went into effect, thousands of Palestinians have returned to what’s left of their homes, amid scenes of vast destruction that have turned entire areas of the coastal enclave into barren wastelands.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the war of annihilation has resulted in 67,869 deaths and 170,105 injuries, with Gaza City being among the most heavily affected areas due to the intensity of the fighting.
The UN Satellite Center (UNOSAT) reported that approximately 83% of buildings in Gaza City have been either destroyed or partially damaged.
So far, the UNDP has removed about 81,000 tons of rubble as part of a long-term rehabilitation plan for the devastated territory.
For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he will work to mobilize support from Gulf states, the United States, and Europe to help rebuild Gaza under the new ceasefire agreement. He expressed confidence that funding for reconstruction projects would be secured quickly.
Speaking to reporters on his return from Sharm El-Sheikh, where he and other leaders witnessed the signing of the agreement, Erdogan stressed that Israel’s “poor record” on ceasefire compliance would require strict oversight from the US and other countries to ensure enforcement.
