UN estimates clearing Gaza of metal debris to take 14 years

Published
2024/04/26 15:54 (CEST)
People walk between damaged buildings and streets as debris removal and cleaning works continue after the withdrawal of Israel from Khan Yunis. Palestinians started returning to the city and trying to live their lives despite the heavily damaged infrastructure system. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The United Nations has estimated that it would take 100 lorries some 14 years to remove the 300 kilograms of scrap metal per square metre covering the heavily destroyed Gaza Strip.

And it is unlikely that the work could be done quickly, Peh Lodhammar from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Geneva said on Friday, due to unexploded ordnances.

There are no concrete estimates of how much live ammunition that did not explode on impact is lying in the ground, Lodhammar said.

Typically, 10% of munitions fired do not explode and are left behind.

A view of the destruction of buildings and streets as debris removal and cleaning works continue after the withdrawal of Israel from Khan Yunis. Palestinians started returning to the city and trying to live their lives despite the heavily damaged infrastructure system. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

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