“Recycling rubble” is an emergency lifeline for repairing Gaza’s roads
Despite the devastation wrought by the nearly two-and-a-half-year war on the Gaza Strip, Gazans seem determined to continue their lives and forge their path toward the future with all the strength they possess, despite the scarcity of resources.
To achieve this goal, Gazans have resorted to transforming the rubble and debris of their homes into raw materials for reconstruction. The streets of the Strip are now filled with scenes of crushed concrete and efforts to recycle metals for use in road repairs. This is part of a project led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a seemingly small step with significant economic implications given the scarcity of resources and the stalled recovery plan for Gaza.
The figures reveal the magnitude of the challenge facing Gazans in rebuilding the Strip. The amount of rubble in the Strip is estimated at approximately 61 million tons, while only 287,000 tons have been removed so far. This is due to the difficulty and high cost of the removal process itself, which requires inspecting sites for unexploded ordnance before work can begin. This slows progress and increases the risks to workers. The rubble represents a direct obstacle to recovery, as it complicates access to water and hospitals and paralyzes trade. But the picture is more complicated, as international estimates indicate that the reconstruction of Gaza needs about $71.4 billion over 10 years, while removing the rubble alone may take 7 years, provided that equipment and fuel are available without restrictions. Official estimates indicate that 90% of the buildings in the sector have been destroyed, and more than 320,000 housing units have suffered varying degrees of damage.
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