Rebuilding Gaza's healthcare system will require an estimated $10 billion over the next five years, according to a report published over the weekend by the World Health Organization, highlighting the massive fiscal burden facing international donors and regional governments as the conflict's infrastructure damage mounts.
The report said more than 1,800 healthcare facilities have been destroyed or damaged across the Strip, about 70% of medical equipment has been depleted and at least half of essential medicines are unavailable. The reporting said the scale of destruction and the financial and logistical challenge of recovery remain immense.
Water Infrastructure Damage
Gaza's water system is crumbling under war and continued military activity, with widespread damage to sewage networks, pumping stations and power-dependent systems, according to estimates released this month by the European Union, the World Bank and the U.N. The reporting said the overall picture remained dire, even as some Israeli-backed projects offered limited hope.
Doctors Without Borders accused Israel of "systemically depriving" people in Gaza of water in what it called a "campaign of collective punishment" against Palestinians. The group said in a report Tuesday that Israel has destroyed or damaged about 90% of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure, including desalination plants, boreholes, pipelines and sewage systems. It said it had also documented the Israeli military shooting at clearly identified water trucks and destroying boreholes that were a lifeline for tens of thousands of people.
The group said the practices have far-reaching consequences for the health, hygiene and dignity of Gaza's 2.1 million people. Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency manager, said, "Israeli authorities know that without water life ends, yet they have deliberately and systematically obliterated water infrastructure in Gaza – while consistently blocking water-related supplies from entering."
Disputed Claims and Government Response
COGAT, Israel's military body that coordinates aid to Gaza, rejected the accusations and said the water supply in the Gaza Strip "consistently exceeds humanitarian thresholds." The conflicting assessments between international aid organizations and Israeli authorities underscore the challenge of establishing accurate baseline conditions for reconstruction planning and donor coordination.
The European Union, the World Bank and the U.N. estimates released this month documented widespread damage to sewage networks, pumping stations and power-dependent systems. The reporting said the overall picture remained dire, even as some Israeli-backed projects offered limited hope for addressing the most critical infrastructure needs.
Why This Matters:
The $10 billion price tag for healthcare reconstruction alone represents a substantial fiscal commitment that will fall primarily on international donors and regional governments, raising questions about funding priorities and accountability mechanisms for reconstruction efforts. The destruction of 1,800 healthcare facilities and 90% of water infrastructure creates immediate humanitarian challenges while also establishing long-term dependencies on external aid that could persist for years. The conflicting assessments between Israeli authorities and international organizations about current water availability complicate reconstruction planning and suggest that effective recovery will require transparent verification mechanisms and clear performance metrics. With 70% of medical equipment depleted and half of essential medicines unavailable, the timeline and cost estimates may prove conservative if security conditions prevent systematic rebuilding or if supply chains remain disrupted.