Over 61 million tons of rubble cover Gaza as reconstruction challenges loom

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported that more than 61 million tons of rubble now cover vast areas of the Gaza Strip, with entire neighborhoods wiped out by two years of ongoing genocide.

UNRWA warned that families are still searching through the debris for water and shelter, while humanitarian aid continues to face severe access restrictions. Despite these challenges, the agency confirmed that its teams are providing life-saving assistance to affected residents and remain committed to continuing humanitarian operations in the territory.

The two-year war in Gaza has destroyed the majority of buildings in the region. According to UN data analyzed by Agence France-Presse, some 193,000 buildings, equivalent to 78 percent of pre-war structures, have been either destroyed or damaged as of July 8, 2025. Satellite imagery collected on September 22–23 indicated that 83 percent of buildings in Gaza City alone were damaged or destroyed.

UNRWA noted that the volume of rubble, estimated at 61.5 million tons, is roughly 170 times the weight of New York’s Empire State Building or 6,000 times that of Paris’s Eiffel Tower. This equates to approximately 169 kilograms of debris per square meter across Gaza’s 365 square kilometers.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), two-thirds of the rubble resulted from military operations during the first five months of the conflict. Destruction accelerated in the months leading up to the ceasefire, with eight million tons of debris recorded between April and July 2025, mostly in southern Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis.

UNEP also highlighted the health risks posed by the debris. Around 4.9 million tons may be contaminated with asbestos, commonly found in older buildings near refugee camps such as Jabalia (north), Nuseirat and Maghazi (central), and Khan Younis and Rafah (south). An additional 2.9 million tons from former industrial sites may contain chemical and toxic materials.

The ceasefire, mediated by US President Donald Trump and implemented on October 10, 2025, paves the way for reconstruction efforts. However, the sheer volume of rubble presents a major obstacle for rebuilding the Gaza Strip and restoring normal life for its residents.