UN: Two-thirds of Gaza buildings have been damaged by war

In the latest update of the damage assessment report, the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) said high resolution images collected on September 3rd and 6th show a notable deterioration.

This analysis... indicates that two-thirds of the total infrastructure in the Gaza Strip has suffered damage”, UNOSAT said.

“Total of 66 per cent of the buildings damaged in the Gaza Belt includes a total of 163.78 structures”, said further in UNOSAT's assessment.

The preliminary assessment, based on images from early July, had determined that 63 per cent of the structures in this Palestinian territory had suffered damage.

Monday's update made it known that the damages now include “52.564 destroyed structures; 18,913 heavily damaged structures; 35.591 possible damaged structures; and 56,710 affected on average”.

U n NO SAT and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation also reported that about 68 per cent of the areas of permanent cultures in Gaza showed a <x0 significant health and density” in September.

Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October resulted in the death of 1,205 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP balance, based on official Israeli figures involving hostages killed in captivity.

Israel's revenge military offensive has killed at least 41.615 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-led health ministry, the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organisation by the US and the EU. The United Nations has described this count as trustworthy.

U n NO SAT, part of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva, says its analysis of satellite images helps the humanitarian community assess the size of conflict damage and helps shape emergency relief efforts.

“In last year, team U n NOSAT has been working over and over again to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the impact of conflict on the buildings and infrastructure in Gaza,” executive director said U n NITAR, Nickil Seth. /rel