Reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza are estimated at $71.4 billion over the next ten years, according to the Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), published by the European Union, the UN and the World Bank on Monday 20 April.
This technical document was drawn up after two years of conflict, from 7 October 2023 to 9 October 2025. It estimates direct physical damage to be $35.2 billion, while economic losses amount to $22.7 billion.
The human impact has been described as “catastrophic”, with more than 71,000 Palestinians killed – including at least 64,000 children – and around 1.9 million people displaced. The report notes a collapse in the average standard of living, claiming that the conflict has “pushed back human development in the Gaza Strip by 77 years”.
The housing sector was the hardest hit, with 371,888 homes damaged or even destroyed, representing 76.6% of existing homes in the Gaza Strip prior to the conflict. Basic infrastructure is also a shambles: less than half the hospitals are partially functional, and the education system has collapsed.
In the short term, it is estimated that $26.3 billion will be needed between now and April 2027 to restore essential services. In a joint statement, the EU and the UN insisted that this process must be “Palestinian-led” and linked to a two-state solution to guarantee a lasting peace.
Read the full report: https://aeur.eu/f/llv (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)