Rebuilding Gaza after clearing out nearly 40 million tons of post-conflict debris could span several years, according to UN representatives.

A convoy of over one hundred vehicles would take nearly fifteen years to clear approximately forty million tonnes of debris from Gaza's landscape, with a projected cost ranging between $500 million and $600 million, as per a UN evaluation conducted last month by the UN Environment Programme.

The findings will highlight the formidable task ahead in reconstructing Palestinian territory following an extensive Israeli military campaign that resulted in significant destruction of residential areas and vital infrastructure.

According to the assessment, Gaza has witnessed damage to approximately 137,297 buildings, exceeding half of all structures within its borders; nearly a quarter were completely destroyed, while about one tenth suffered severe damages and an additional third experienced moderate harm.

To accommodate the accumulated rubble, massive landfills spanning between 250 to 500 hectares (approximately 618 to 1,235 acres) would be necessary, contingent on recycling possibilities as determined by the report.

In May, an estimate released by the UN Development Programme suggested that restoring homes in Gaza could take up until 2040 under a most optimistic scenario, with total reconstruction potentially costing upwards of $40 billion – a figure intended to encourage fundraising for early planning efforts related to rehabilitation. The assessment also warned the conflict may result in a regression comparable to levels seen in 1980 across health, education and economic sectors over the past four decades.

"The degree of destruction is unprecedented," shared one UN official based in Gaza with Guardian last week. "In Khan Younis alone, not a single building remains unaffected." The area's topography has been significantly altered; hills have emerged where none existed before – all due to the impact of bombings by Israel.

Critical infrastructure such as schools and health facilities, roads, sewers and others have undergone substantial damage. Acknowledging progress in increasing the capacity of a vital desalination plant serving Gaza, humanitarian officials noted that water distribution within the territory remains challenging due to extensive pipeline damages.

The UNDP reported ongoing increases to reconstruction estimates compared to those made by UN and Palestinian officials earlier this year – with daily rises observed since January's assessment.

Gaza is currently grappling not only with the debris but also over a hundred explosions per week caused by unexploded ordnance, resulting in ongoing casualties and amputations according to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency.

In April, Pehr Lodhammar, former United Nations Mine Action Service chief for Iraq, noted that roughly 10% of munitions do not detonate upon firing, necessitating their removal by demining teams – a task further complicated in Gaza due to the potential presence of shells or other concealed weapons within damaged buildings.

Residential structures make up sixty-five percent of those destroyed during the conflict, as cited by Lodhammar; rebuilding these areas would pose significant challenges owing to ongoing dangers associated with remnants from munitions and explosives concealed in compromised or damaged buildings.