Gaza Herald – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that Israel’s genocide on the Gaza Strip has reversed nearly eight decades of human development, according to a joint international assessment by the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations.
In a statement released Monday, UNRWA said the report found that Gaza’s human development indicators have been pushed back by approximately 77 years as a result of the devastating impact of the ongoing war and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis gripping the territory.
According to the assessment, the past two years have witnessed a dramatic decline in living standards, livelihoods, and food security across Gaza, alongside widening gender inequalities and growing social exclusion, affecting every aspect of daily life for the population.
UNRWA noted that the consequences of the war extend far beyond physical destruction, with all residents of the Gaza Strip now suffering long-term effects on their physical, mental, and social well-being.
The report highlighted that widespread displacement, loss of income, destruction of infrastructure, and the collapse of economic activity have severely undermined the ability of Palestinians in Gaza to sustain their livelihoods.
It also emphasized that life-saving humanitarian assistance provided by UNRWA, including healthcare services, has played a critical role in mitigating some of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the genocide.
According to the report, UNRWA possesses the infrastructure, personnel, and expertise necessary to significantly expand its humanitarian operations and support for Gaza’s population.
However, the agency stressed that such efforts depend on allowing greater quantities of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and essential goods to enter the Gaza Strip.
The findings underscore the scale of the humanitarian and developmental devastation caused by the war, with international agencies warning that rebuilding Gaza’s social and economic foundations will require years of sustained recovery efforts and substantial international support.
