STORY: Nearly 55 million tonnes of debris throughout Gaza need to be removed in the first phase of the reconstruction of the enclave, a UNDP official told Reuters on Thursday (October 16) during his visit to the enclave.

"This is equal to 13 Pyramids of Giza, just to give you an indication of the challenge that will be required as well," said special representative For UNDP programme of assistance to the Palestinian people, Jaco Cilliers.

Huge swathes of Gaza have been reduced to a wasteland by Israeli bombardment over two years that killed some 68,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

A large part of the destruction is in Gaza City, scene of some of the fiercest fighting. About 83% of all building structures there have been damaged, according to the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT).

UNDP said it had already cleared some 81,000 tons of rubble from the Gaza Strip and was continuing to do so.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked the country on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday under the ceasefire deal and Israel sent home busloads of Palestinian detainees, as U.S. President Donald Trump declared the end of the two-year-long war.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Nearly 55 million tonnes of debris in Gaza must be cleared before reconstruction - UNDP official

VIDEO SHOWS: DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING DAMAGE IN GAZA CITY / INTERVIEW WITH SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNDP PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP), JACO CILLIERS / CILLIERS DURING VISIT TO DESTROYED BUILDINGS IN GAZA CITY / DESTRUCTION IN GAZA CITY

SHOWS: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 15, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

1. DRONE FOOTAGE OF RUBBLE AND DESTROYED BUILDINGS

GAZA CITY, GAZA (OCTOBER 16, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. VARIOUS OF TOP AND DRIVING SHOTS OF RUBBLE AND DESTROYED BUILDINGS / PEOPLE WALKING AND CARS MOVING

3. UNITED NATIONS CAR CONVOY ARRIVING AT SCENE

4. VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF A DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME DURING VISIT TO GAZA CITY

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNDP PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP), JACO CILLIERS, SAYING:

"So there is a big process underway to also look at the total damage that have been occurring throughout Gaza, a process called rapid damage needs assessment was jointly conducted by the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union, and that figure in February 2025 came to about $53 billion for the reconstruction needs. This figure is now being updated, we are working on a number of initiatives to also do the physical damage assessment and we anticipate that the figure will significantly increase, also because of the increase in damages."

6. VARIOUS OF UNDP DELEGATION MEMBERS INSPECTING DAMAGE AND RUBBLE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNDP PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP), JACO CILLIERS, SAYING:

"There is a number of priorities that needs to come first. As you can see behind me, there are massive construction damages as well, and this list (includes) a lot of rubble and debris that need to be removed first. There are other challenges that come with this, including unexploded ordnances that first have to be cleared for safety, but in the process to start the reconstruction will require a huge amount of debris removal. There is about 55 million tonnes of debris throughout Gaza. This is equal to 13 Pyramids of Giza, just to give you an indication of the challenge that will be required as well. Only once the debris is removed can one start with the reconstruction and also the humanitarian needs. What we are focusing on at the moment is really to clear the roads so the humanitarian trucks and equipment can be moved to the people, but we are also clearing debris from areas such as hospitals and other social services."

8. UN CONVOY AT SCENE WITH BULLDOZER SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND

9. VARIOUS OF BULLDOZER MOVING ACROSS STREET AND REMOVING RUBBLE

10. VARIOUS OF CILLIERS DURING TOURS, UNITED NATIONS EMBLEM ON CLOTHING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNDP PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP), JACO CILLIERS, SAYING:

"So the immediate needs for the people of Gaza obviously to look at the humanitarian needs, this is food, water, and shelter. But at the same time now that we have a ceasefire, one can start with the process of looking at early recovery. So this is really important, so what it is - we will basically clear the debris and then there are a number of other initiatives. Waste management is a big challenge. People living under difficult situations where waste have gathered, it is unhealthy, it needs to be cleared as well. Water trucking is a very big need for the people, for instance, in Gaza City, one of the biggest needs is water. It is at the moment trucked to them because the infrastructure has been broken. But then also looking at the early phases of bringing the health system and the education system back to life will be very important. Children have been out of schools for two years and bringing education centres and initial places where people can go back to school will be very important. That is really the starting process for the larger reconstruction initiatives that need to take place. And we are looking also for opportunities where some of the equipment and some of the needed reconstruction material can be brought to Gaza as soon as possible so that the process can start."

12. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC MOVING BETWEEN DESTROYED BUILDINGS

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNDP PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP), JACO CILLIERS, SAYING:

"Shelter is a massive challenge as well. If you look around Gaza, people are living in tents, we have winter coming and there are huge challenges that people will face. We are focusing on bringing in transitional shelter, which can help especially the vulnerable: women-led households, people with disabilities and other people who are under vulnerable situations as well. These transitional shelters will create a better environment for people to live in, but it won't be the housing they are used to, so the process for also clearing the debris and starting with the reconstruction and building houses for people will be very important moving forward."

14. TRAFFIC MOVING THROUGH DAMAGED STREET

15. UNITED NATIONS CARS

16. TRAFFIC MOVING THROUGH DAMAGED STREETS

KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 15, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

17. VARIOUS OF DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING RUBBLE AND DESTROYED BUILDINGS