A recent United Nations report reveals that two-thirds of buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023. The findings, released by the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) on September 30, highlight a severe escalation in destruction due to ongoing hostilities.
According to the assessment based on high-resolution satellite imagery collected in early September, approximately 66% of the 163,778 structures in the Gaza Strip have sustained some level of damage. This includes 52,564 buildings that have been completely destroyed, 18,913 that are severely damaged, and 35,591 that may have been affected. Additionally, 56,710 buildings are reported to have moderate damage.
Gaza City has faced particularly intense devastation, with 36,611 buildings reported as completely wiped out. The analysis also indicated that around 68% of permanent crop fields in the region have experienced significant declines in health and density, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
The conflict was ignited by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, primarily civilians, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel's strikes on Gaza have led to at least 41,615 fatalities, the majority being civilians, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN has deemed these casualty figures reliable.
UNOSAT has played a crucial role in providing vital information about the impact of the conflict on Gaza’s buildings and infrastructure, aiding humanitarian agencies in their emergency relief efforts. "Over the past year, UNOSAT’s team has worked tirelessly to provide the world with precise and timely insights into the impact of the conflict on buildings and infrastructure in Gaza,” stated UNITAR's Executive Director, Nikhil Seth.
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