Gaza’s Struggle: One Year After the Conflict Erupted
The devastation in Gaza is overwhelming, with about 60% of buildings destroyed and 68% of roads rendered impassable.
As the one-year mark of the Israel-Hamas conflict approaches, which began in October 2023, Gaza continues to suffer greatly. Local health authorities revealed on Sunday that the death toll has reached over 41,595 Palestinians, with injuries reported at 96,251.
The devastation in Gaza is overwhelming, with about 60% of buildings destroyed and 68% of roads rendered impassable. Many residents have been displaced, and the basic infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems, has been severely damaged. Those who have survived are living in dire conditions, facing shortages of food and clean water, while disease outbreaks are rampant. The possibility of a ceasefire appears increasingly remote.
Once home to 2.4 million residents, Gaza has witnessed the loss of over 40,000 lives, with over 90% of its population now displaced due to the ongoing violence.
Residents find themselves deprived of essential resources such as food, medical supplies, and clean drinking water, while incessant evacuation orders from Israeli forces force them to flee.
Currently, Gaza remains under a strict Israeli blockade, with humanitarian aid falling short. According to a United Nations report from July, at least 495,000 individuals in Gaza face severe food shortages, with many experiencing malnutrition.
The water supply systems have been critically damaged, leaving most residents without access to clean drinking water and reliant on water trucks. The sewage system has also been destroyed, leading to unsanitary living conditions. UNICEF reports that many people in Gaza are suffering from diseases such as diarrhea and skin infections due to these conditions.
Authorities estimate that nearly 170,000 buildings have been damaged, accounting for about 60% of all structures in Gaza. Of the 510 schools in the region, approximately 85% (or 477 schools) have been damaged, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without education.
Moreover, Gaza’s electricity generation facilities, water plants, and police stations are non-operational, resulting in a significant collapse of the healthcare system. Currently, only 16 out of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are operational, facing severe shortages of medical supplies.
