Jerusalem, October 14 (QNA) - The United Nations has estimated the cost of rebuilding the Gaza Strip at approximately USD70 billion, based on the Interim Damage Assessment conducted by the UN, the European Union, and the World Bank.

This assessment, published on March 29, 2024, indicates that the total damage in Gaza amounted to USD18.5 billion by the end of January 2024. However, the full recovery and reconstruction costs are expected to be significantly higher, potentially reaching up to USD70 billion, depending on the scale of reconstruction efforts and the extent of international support.

In a press conference from Jerusalem on Tuesday, UNDP Special Representative for the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, Jaco Cilliers, described the scale of destruction in Gaza as horrific.

 It is shocking to witness the devastation firsthand, to see families digging through rubble searching for their belongings, and to see young children searching for water and food, when they should be in school, he stated.

Cilliers reported that the UNDP has removed approximately 81,000 tons of rubble and emphasized that the majority of current debris removal operations aim to provide access for humanitarian actors to deliver necessary assistance and support to Gaza's residents.

The program is also assisting in clearing debris from hospitals and other social service facilities, reusing over 13,000 tons of rubble to pave roads and provide flooring for shelters, added Cilliers.

He reiterated the call for all parties to respect the ceasefire, underscoring its importance for long-term stability and recovery in Gaza.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the World Health Organization, Tarik Jasarevic, highlighted the urgent need to increase medical supply deliveries.

He noted that WHO teams have managed to access Al Ahli Hospital, Al-Aqsa Hospital, and the European Hospital, retrieving some equipment and transferring it to the Nasser Medical Complex.

Jasarevic also emphasized the importance of expanding medical evacuation operations from Gaza, stating that 15,600 individuals, including 3,800 children, require medical evacuation.

He called for more countries to accept patients from Gaza and for the reopening of all medical evacuation routes to the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (QNA)