The Reconstruction of Gaza, Critical considerations to rebuilding lives

The destruction brought by the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip is unprecedented in intensity and scale. This densely populated territory has suffered more than 70 percent of home loss, with nearly 1.7 million people being internally displaced. The loss of home does not only constitute the destruction of residential buildings but also expands to a broader meaning of home which includes the entire built environment, critical infrastructure, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. The recently released interim damage assessment report by the World Bank, EU, and UN covers the period until January 2024, with expectations that the physical and social cost of damage will continue to rise.

The task of rebuilding Gaza demands careful consideration and concerted efforts to address the complexity and scale of the destruction. Hence, this networking event aims to exchange lessons and share insights by tackling post-war reconstruction from different perspectives.

The reconstruction of Gaza represents a case of aid and development nexus requiring innovation in resource management. The recovery phase will be prolonged to accommodate the decontamination and removal of rubble, while the provision of short-term shelter will be extended until neighborhoods and critical infrastructures are rebuilt. Despite the imperative to expedite reconstruction, industrializing the process by top-down decisions risks marginalizing local voices. Two distinguished speakers affiliated with the Cities Alliance and Urban Activism will offer their perspectives on socially inclusive and gender-transformative approaches to post-war reconstruction.

Though the reconstruction of Gaza is a challenging task, it presents an opportunity to Build Back Better by adopting green and sustainable principles. Enabel, with its active involvement in Palestine and other regions, promotes green transitions. Central to this transition is the essential task of rubble removal and recycling. UNDP will share their valuable insights in the panel discussion from previous rubble removal projects in Gaza and other regions.

The war may cause significant transformation in governance structure at all levels, a transitional phase that demands both time and endorsement by stakeholders. The resilience of the local community must be strengthened to enable people to confidently invest in their lives in this fragile territory. This can be achieved by collaboratively fostering strong partnerships between local and international actors. Two distinguished panelists from the World Bank and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund will share their views on this matter.

The event will last 90 minutes. 25 minutes will be allocated to two kickoff presentations, followed by 35 minutes for panel discussion. Subsequently, there will be a 30-minute non-structured networking, allowing all participants to engage.