Work to remove debris from Gaza is difficult... Size: 61 million tons, expected to take at least 7 to 10 years

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Hoon-sang = Debris removal work is in full swing in the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by the war between Israel and Palestine's Hamas, but is facing difficulties due to the enormous scale and lack of equipment, the British Guardian reported on the 27th (local time).

“The total amount of debris in the Gaza Strip is estimated at 61 million tons,” Yako Silius, the UNDP’s special representative for Palestine, told this newspaper. “This is 20 times the amount of debris generated in all wars around the world over the past 18 years.”

The United Nations estimates that it will take at least 7 to 10 years just to remove such debris.

Over the past two years, approximately 907,000 tons of debris has been removed and more than 300,000 tons have been recycled and reused, but this only accounts for 1.5% of the total debris. The road cleared to date is 580 km, which is significant in that the movement of relief trucks, personnel, and residents has partially resumed, but it is still in the early stages compared to the overall scale.

The Guardian pointed out that the removal of debris from the Gaza Strip will be the largest post-war cleanup operation in modern history.

“It feels like trying to scoop out the ocean with a spoon,” said Ahmed Alyan, who is working to clear debris from the road.

Another reason that adds to the difficulty of the work is that Israeli authorities block the import of necessary equipment other than food and medicine on the grounds that they can be used in war. The Guardian reported, “Most of the equipment available in the Gaza Strip is severely worn out, and there is a severe shortage of parts, engine oil, and other resources needed for maintenance and repair, so machines frequently break down during work.”

The Guardian pointed out that debris removal work takes place in extremely difficult and dangerous environments. This is because work must be done carefully, paying attention to bodies and unexploded bombs under the rubble. UNDP estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 bodies were buried in the rubble.

It is said that they are especially careful about removing the remains of houses where residents lived.

“For people, the rubble is not just fragments, but memories of their entire lives,” said Nehal Amoo Hasan, a member of the World Food Program (WFP). “In some cases, there may still be bodies underneath, so removing the debris is a very sensitive issue for families and communities.”

UNDP, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is identifying locations where the remains may be buried and is prioritizing these areas for debris removal. We are also pursuing forensic procedures to identify remains, guaranteeing religious funeral rights, and issuance of related documents for bereaved families.

Unexploded ordnance is another threat to field personnel and residents. Before work begins, UNDP and WFP work with the United Nations Mine Action Agency (UNMAS) and the British charity Halo Trust to identify and mark risk areas. However, due to limited explosive removal capabilities in the Gaza Strip, it is difficult to dismantle or remove all unexploded ordnance. Harmful substances such as asbestos and buildings at risk of collapse are also factors that hinder work and the return of residents.

“The initial recovery is progressing slowly,” said Silius. “Although we are restricted from bringing in the necessary equipment and services, we are trying to do what we can.”