Gaza needs $71.5bn for recovery as joblessness reaches 90 percent

The UN Conference on Trade and Development released findings showing the Palestinian territory requires massive international investment to rebuild its shattered economy and infrastructure. The assessment underscores the severity of conditions on the ground, where unemployment has reached 90 percent according to the trade body's analysis.

The report indicates that impacts of the prolonged occupation have accelerated sharply, creating what officials describe as the most severe economic crisis in Gaza's recent history. The scale of needed reconstruction encompasses both physical infrastructure and economic institutions required to restore basic functioning.

The $71.5 billion figure represents an extraordinary burden for a territory with limited resources and restricted access to international markets. The UN body's analysis suggests that recovery will require sustained international cooperation and substantial financial commitments from the global community.

Gaza's economy has deteriorated significantly, with the territory facing severe restrictions on commerce, movement of goods, and employment opportunities. The combination of conflict-related destruction and longstanding economic constraints has created conditions that experts warn could take years to reverse even with adequate international support.