RAMALLAH, Feb 18 (Bernama-Prensa Latina) -- More than 250,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged in the Gaza Strip after 15 months of Israeli aggression, a Palestinian official source denounced.
Prensa Latina reported Public Works and Housing Ministry of the coastal enclave estimated in a statement that 170,000 were demolished and another 80,000 are unfit to live in.
It stressed that work is underway to complete the linking of the first census database to the geographic information system, in coordination with the municipalities.
It said hat the field reconnaissance process increased after the entry into force of a cease-fire on Jan 19, because the work teams were able to reach areas that had been inaccessible due to the war.
Last month, the UN Satellite Centre revealed that Israel damaged or destroyed 179,812 buildings in the Strip, 69 per cent of the total, from the beginning of the conflict in October 2023 until December 1, 2024.
The UN estimates that the reconstruction of the Strip will take up to 15 years and cost more than US$53 billion.
The Palestinian Public Works and Housing Minister, Ahed Faiq Bseiso, warned that the removal of rubble in Gaza could take three to five years due to the extensive destruction caused by Israeli attacks.
The Environmental Quality Authority estimates that the aggression caused an accumulation of more than 42 million tonnes of debris contaminated with hazardous materials in the enclave.
-- BERNAMA-PRENSA LATINA
