In recent press statements, the country’s chief executive, Rola Dashti, warned of the expansion of multidimensional poverty and the shocking number of deaths of minors since October 7 last year.
In just over four weeks, the number of children murdered in Gaza, which stands at 4,300, has surpassed the total number of children lost in armed conflicts in 22 countries since 2020, he said.
Cespao estimates that 35,000 housing units were completely demolished and about 212,000 were partially damaged, meaning the majority of Gaza’s population could no longer have a place to call home or stay.
“The negative effects of the war are already reaching neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, exacerbating their socio-economic and financial challenges,” the representative warned.
For his part, Abdallah Al Dardari, Under-Secretary-General and Director of the Arab States Regional Office of the United Nations Development Program, announced that the Palestinian economy will lose four percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in a month.
“This is unlike any conflict we have seen before. “The Syrian economy used to lose one percent of GDP every month,” he stressed.
After two months of fighting, Palestine, and not just Gaza, has lost 16 years of human development, the representative noted.
This means direct impacts on health, education, infrastructure and economic growth that would be wiped out.
“Palestine has existed since 2005,” he emphasized.
jha/ebr