UN Warns Clearing 60 Mln tons of Rubble in Gaza Could Take 7 Years

The United Nations has warned that removing the vast scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip could take more than seven years, as the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, said the volume of rubble in Gaza has exceeded 60 million tonnes, following widespread devastation caused by the conflict. Speaking after a visit to the territory on Thursday, he described the situation as increasingly dire.

Moreira da Silva said people in Gaza are exhausted, traumatised and living in a state of profound despair, as basic services remain severely disrupted. He noted that the amount of debris is equivalent to the cargo of around 3,000 container ships, adding that each resident is now surrounded by an average of 30 tonnes of rubble.

He warned that harsh winter conditions and heavy rainfall are further compounding the suffering of the population, stressing that the recovery of nearly two million people requires urgent action. According to the UN official, priorities include providing safe shelter, securing fuel supplies and launching large-scale debris removal operations to restore essential services.

The scale of destruction, he said, is staggering, with homes, schools, clinics, roads and water and electricity networks all heavily damaged or destroyed.

Moreira da Silva also raised alarm over the long-term impact on children, warning that those who have been out of school for three years risk becoming a “lost generation”. He said daily life for many children in Gaza is now shaped by loss, trauma and uncertainty.

The UN has repeatedly called for accelerated humanitarian access and sustained international support, warning that without swift intervention, Gaza’s recovery could be delayed for years, with lasting consequences for an entire generation.