JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jorge Moreira da Silva highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and noted that there were 60 million metric tons of debris piling up in the area due to the destruction caused by Israel.
"I have just returned from Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis is getting worse," Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), said in a statement quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, January 16.
He said that Gaza residents were exhausted, traumatized, and overwhelmed. In addition, the harsh winter conditions and heavy rains this week doubled the suffering and despair of the community.
Describing the level of destruction as "extraordinary," da Silva said for children, daily life is now marked by loss and trauma.
"Gaza has more than 60 million tons of rubble, equivalent to the capacity of almost 3,000 container ships. On average, every person in Gaza is currently surrounded by 30 tons of rubble," he said.
The United Nations estimates it will take more than seven years to clear the debris.
Expressing UNOPS' support in debris clearance, energy recovery, waste management, and provision of shelter, da Silva stressed that his agency continues to supply much-needed fuel for humanitarian purposes.
He called fuel the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza, and warned that without fuel, hospitals could not run life-saving health services, water and sanitation systems would stop.
Fuel shortages will also cause food aid to be unable to be distributed, as well as communication and transportation for emergency responders.
"Our team is also working with UN Mine Action to help communities face the widespread risk of unexploded remnants of explosive ordnance," he said.
Furthermore, da Silva welcomed the United States' announcement of a transition to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan.
"This must really be the beginning of reconstruction. Early recovery must begin immediately, including restoring access to basic services," he said.
Emphasizing the issue of debris, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations said that the debris issue was not only its volume, but the contents of the debris, such as asbestos, human remains, or unexploded explosives.
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