KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — The World Bank and United Nations (UN), with support from the European Union, released a report on Tuesday estimating the damage to critical infrastructure in Gaza at approximately US$18.5 billion.
According to the Interim Damage Assessment report, the cost of damage is equivalent to 97 per cent of the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the West Bank and Gaza in 2022.
The report used remote data collection sources to measure damage to physical infrastructure in critical sectors incurred between October 2023 and the end of January 2024.
The report finds that damage to structures affects every sector of the economy.
“Housing accounts for 72 per cent of the costs. Public service infrastructure such as water, health and education account for 19 per cent, and damages to commercial and industrial buildings account for 9 per cent,” said the report, which can be accessed via World Bank’s website.
For several sectors, the rate of damage appears to be levelling off as few assets remain intact, it said.
The report said that an estimated 26 million tonnes of debris and rubble have been left in the wake of the destruction — an amount that is estimated to take years to remove.
The report also looks at the impact on the people of Gaza.
“More than half the population of Gaza is on the brink of famine and the entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
“Over a million people are without homes and 75 per cent of the population is displaced,” it said.
The report said catastrophic cumulative impacts on physical and mental health have hit women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities the hardest, with the youngest children anticipated to be facing life-long consequences to their development.
“With 84 per cent of health facilities damaged or destroyed and a lack of electricity and water to operate the remaining facilities, the population has minimal access to health care, medicine, or life-saving treatments.
“The water and sanitation system has nearly collapsed, delivering less than 5 per cent of its previous output, with people dependent on limited water rations for survival.
“The education system has collapsed, with 100 per cent of children out of school,” it said.
The report also points to the impact on power networks as well as solar-generated systems and the almost total power blackout since the first week of the conflict.
With 92 per cent of primary roads destroyed or damaged and communications infrastructure seriously impaired, the delivery of basic humanitarian aid to people has become very difficult, it said.
Meanwhile, the Interim Damage Assessment note identifies key actions for early recovery efforts, starting with an increase in humanitarian assistance, food aid and food production; the provision of shelter and rapid, cost-effective, and scalable housing solutions for displaced people; and the resumption of essential services.
— Bernama
