Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations and the European Union report that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77 years, with recovery costs estimated at $71.4 billion over the next decade, according to the Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) with the World Bank.
In the first 18 months, $26.3 billion may be needed to restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure, and support economic recovery. Since the outbreak of full-scale conflict in October 2023 following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, physical damage in Gaza is estimated at $35.2 billion, with additional economic and social losses of $22.7 billion.
Sectors affected include housing, health, education, commerce, and agriculture, with over 371,888 housing units damaged or destroyed. More than half of hospitals are non-functional, and nearly all schools have suffered damage. The economy has reportedly shrunk by 84%.
The humanitarian impact is severe: over 60% of the population have lost their homes and 1.9 million people are displaced, often multiple times. Vulnerable groups—including women, children, persons with disabilities, and those with pre-existing vulnerabilities—are especially affected. Local authorities have reported more than 71,000 Palestinian fatalities and over 171,000 injuries, with many still unaccounted for under rubble.
The assessment guides early recovery and reconstruction planning, emphasizing the need for recovery efforts alongside humanitarian action for effective transition. It references UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which includes creating a transitional administration led by President Trump and establishing an International Stabilisation Force (ISF). Recovery and reconstruction are recommended to be Palestinian-led, supporting governance transition and a political solution based on the two-State framework.
Planning should be inclusive, transparent, and accountable, with attention to the needs of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.