Rebuilding Gaza will “be a long, long process” – UN official
A UN official in Gaza warned that the rebuilding process of the territory will “take an awful lot of time” despite the promise to increase humanitarian aid, the BBC reported on January 20th.
Sam Rose, acting director of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, highlighted the extensive scale of recovery needed. “We’re not just talking about food, healthcare, buildings, roads, infrastructure. We’ve got individuals, families, communities that need to be rebuilt,” Rose told the BBC.
Since a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on January 19th, the UN reported that at least 1,545 aid lorries had crossed into Gaza. The deliveries, delayed for months, included essential items such as food, tents, blankets, mattresses, and winter clothing.
The ceasefire agreement reportedly outlines that 600 aid lorries, including 50 carrying fuel, enter Gaza daily for the first six weeks. In exchange, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
READ: Hamas set for new round of hostage release
Rose said: “We’re no longer moving through an active conflict zone. We no longer need have to co-ordinate all these movements with the Israeli authorities. And we’ve not today… faced any major problems with looting and criminality.”
However, Rose cautioned against solely focusing on the quantity of aid. Rose said: “We have to get away from thinking of people’s needs in Gaza as a function of the volume of aid. Every person in Gaza has been traumatised by what’s gone on. Everyone has lost something. Most of those homes are now destroyed, most of the roads are now destroyed. It’s going to be a long, long process of rehabilitation and rebuilding.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a 60-day plan to address Gaza’s immediate health needs, according to regional director Hanan Balkhy. The strategy includes repairing hospitals, establishing temporary clinics, tackling malnutrition, and managing disease outbreaks. Half of Gaza’s hospitals are non-operational, and the remainder are only partially functional.
On January 19th, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza as “staggering”. UN officials have attributed the crisis to Israeli military restrictions on aid, ongoing hostilities, and the collapse of law and order.
Israel has denied limiting aid deliveries and accused UN agencies of failing to distribute supplies. It also alleged that Hamas has stolen aid, a claim the group denies.
UNRWA teams in southern Gaza are yet to access the north due to Israeli military restrictions, Rose confirmed. However, he noted that the Unrwa had the necessary networks who could provide assistance, if granted access.
The agency faces pressing concerns over new Israeli legislation which will prohibit it from operating in Israeli territory and stop communication with Israeli agencies. The laws are set to take effect next week.
READ: “No real effort” made by Israel to probe Gaza war crimes – ICC prosecutor
This follows Israel’s accusations that the organisation is complicit with Hamas, claiming 18 staff members participated in the October 7th attack. UNRWA has dismissed nine employees which may have been involved according to a UN investigation and reiterated its commitment to neutrality.
The agency’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, has vowed that staff in Gaza will “stay and deliver” despite personal risks posed should the Israeli government implement these two laws.
The BBC
