"61 Million Tons of Debris in Gaza... 10,000 Bodies Buried Underneath"

▲ Destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip

The Guardian reported on the 27th (local time) that while debris removal operations are beginning in earnest in the Gaza Strip, which has been reduced to ruins by the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, the effort is facing major hurdles due to the sheer scale of the debris and a shortage of equipment.

Aki Faerge Silliers, the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People Special Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told the newspaper, "The total amount of debris in the Gaza Strip is estimated at 61 million tons," adding, "This is 20 times the amount of debris generated in all conflicts worldwide over the past 18 years."

The UN estimates that it will take at least 7 to 10 years just to clear such debris.

Over the past two years, about 907,000 tons of debris have been cleared, and more than 300,000 tons have been recycled or reused, but this accounts for only 1.5% of the total debris.

So far, 580 kilometers of roads have been cleared, which is significant in that the movement of aid trucks, personnel, and residents has partially resumed, but it is still at an initial stage compared to the overall scale.

The Guardian pointed out that the debris removal in Gaza will be the largest post-war cleanup operation in modern history.

Ahmed Alyan, who works on clearing debris from roads, said, "It feels like trying to bail out the ocean with a spoon."

Another factor aggravating the difficulties of the operation is that Israeli authorities block the import of necessary equipment, citing reasons that they could be used for warfare, except for food and medicine.

The Guardian reported, "Most of the equipment available in Gaza is severely worn out, and due to an acute shortage of other resources needed for maintenance and repairs, such as spare parts and engine oil, machines frequently break down during work."

The Guardian noted that the debris removal work takes place in an extremely difficult and dangerous environment.

This is because workers must proceed cautiously while paying attention to bodies and unexploded ordnance buried beneath the debris.

The UNDP estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 bodies are buried in the rubble.

Clearing the rubble of homes where residents once lived is said to be especially delicate.

Nehal Abu Hassan, a team member with the World Food Programme (WFP), said, "To the people, the debris is not just fragments, but the memories of their entire lives," adding, "In some cases, bodies may still be underneath, so clearing the debris is a very sensitive issue for families and communities."

The UNDP, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organizations, is identifying locations where human remains are likely buried and prioritizing these areas for debris removal operations.

Forensic procedures to identify remains, ensuring the right to religious burials, and issuing relevant documents for bereaved families are also being pursued simultaneously.

Unexploded ordnance poses another threat to on-site personnel and residents.

Before starting work, the UNDP and WFP cooperate with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the British charity Halo Trust to identify and mark dangerous areas.

However, due to limited explosive ordnance disposal capacity within the Gaza Strip, it is difficult to dismantle or remove all unexploded ordnance.

Hazardous materials such as asbestos and buildings at risk of collapse are also factors hindering operations and the return of residents.

Representative Silliers said, "Early recovery is progressing slowly," adding, "Although the import of necessary equipment and services has been restricted, we are trying to do as much as possible."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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