$18.5 billion in Gaza’s economic losses due to the war

Gaza - Together - A joint report by the United Nations and the World Bank revealed that the value of the economic losses witnessed by the Gaza Strip, since the start of the Israeli ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, amounted to about 18.5 billion dollars, which represents 97% of the Palestinian gross domestic product in the West Bank and Gaza. Year 2022. According to the report titled 'Interim Damage Assessment,' which covered the time period between October 7, 2023 and the end of January 2024, the ratios of sector losses to the total loss were as follows: Housing sector 72%. Trade, industry and services sector 9%. Agriculture sector: 3.4%. Health sector 3%. Water, sanitation and hygiene sector 2.7%. Environmental sector 2.2%. Transportation sector 1.9%. Education sector 1.8%. Cultural heritage sector 1.7%. Energy sector 1.5%. Information and communications technology sector 0.5%. Municipal services sector 0.1%. According to the same source, the losses appeared as if they had caused the destructi on of all infrastructure and leveling it to the ground, leaving only a few untouched assets, indicating that about 26 million tons of debris and rubble were left behind by the destruction operations resulting from the Israeli bombing, while estimates indicate Until it takes years to remove it. In the same context, the United Nations and the World Bank indicated that more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip is on the brink of famine, and the entire population suffers from severe food insecurity and malnutrition, explaining that 'about a million people in Gaza are homeless, and 75% of the population has become.' "Homeless." Also, the report said that the war has 'catastrophic cumulative effects on physical and psychological health that have severely affected women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and it is expected that this will lead to lifelong consequences related to the development of today's children in the Palestinian Strip.' He continued: "With the damage or destruction of 84% of health facilities in Gaza and the lack of electricity and water to operate the remaining facilities, residents are suffering from a lack of access to health care and life-saving first aid." He added, "The collapse extended to the water and sanitation system in Gaza, which has become less than 5% of its previous capacity, and the population has become dependent on limited water rations to help them survive." The report confirmed that "the education system in Gaza has completely collapsed, with 100% of children out of school due to the war." It should be noted that 'since the first week of the war, power networks and solar power generation systems in Gaza have been disrupted, leading to an almost total power outage,' noting that '92% of the main roads were destroyed or damaged, and the communications sector infrastructure was paralyzed; This has made it more difficult to deliver basic humanitarian aid to the population.' The report also recommended increasing humanitarian relief efforts and food a id, providing shelter for the displaced, and restoring basic services. While the number of displaced persons and people displaced due to the Israeli war on Gaza during the period from October 7 to April 2 reached 1.7 million, according to the World Health Organization. For its part, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said that the Palestinian economy suffered production losses estimated at $2.3 billion during the first four months of the Israeli occupation aggression. Source: Maan News Agency