Rubbled debris clearance and the search for thousands of bodies in Gaza
While millions of tons of rubble piles in Gaza harbor thousands of bodies and unexploded ordnance risks, aid teams are carrying out a difficult cleanup with limited equipment.
Clearing approximately 61 million tons of rubble in Gaza is being conducted as one of the largest and most risky operations in modern history due to thousands of bodies, unexploded ordnance, and heavy equipment restrictions.
Massive rubble piles
The amount of rubble accumulated across the Gaza Strip is estimated to be approximately 61 million tons. This creates a massive debris problem that far exceeds the amount of waste generated in conflicts of recent years.
Difficult and risky field conditions
Cleanup crews are operating under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions amid the threat of thousands of bodies that may remain trapped under the rubble and unexploded ordnance.
Equipment and material restrictions
Due to bans and restrictions imposed on the entry of necessary construction machinery and materials into the region, authorities are seeking solutions by repairing existing worn-out machinery and recycling.
Recycling of rubble
The United Nations Development Programme manages various crushing facilities and sites in the region in order to process and reuse the debris collected from roads and infrastructure.
Humanitarian and forensic sensitivities
The proper recovery of thousands of human remains that may be trapped under the debris and their burial according to religious rites is of vital importance to families.