UN official during his visit to Gaza: We bring 1.3 million liters a day after a ceasefire and are committed to reconstruction

This is what Da Silva told the United Nations News reporter in Gaza from the European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza while visiting the Strip.

The UN official explained that in the absence of other energy sources, fuel is the only way to operate hospitals, schools, bakeries and homes in Gaza.

He talked about the role of the office in bringing fuel to Gaza in the last period, saying: “Before the ceasefire, the United Nations Office for Project Services was only able to bring 100,000 liters per day. Now, with a ceasefire, we passed a new process of purchase and distribution, as we bring and distribute 1.3 million liters per day. This is essential to all sectors, Especially in the field of health “.

He stated that the office does not only bring and distribute fuel, but also by monitoring fuel to ensure its proper use. He said that before the ceasefire, nine ambulances belonging to the European Hospital stopped due to a lack of fuel, but “Now that we have been bringing fuel and distributing it without any shortage, ambulances are working at full capacity.”.

A very difficult situation

While he was in the European Hospital in Gaza, Da Silva said that the hospital is one of the most important hospitals in the Strip, noting that before the war, the office provided and installed solar panels outside the hospital to generate electricity, but “These panels disappeared because people had no other option to obtain electricity in their homes. And even some of the displaced people internally had to live under the panels because there was no other place to live in because they lost their homes.”.

He pointed out that the hospital is currently relied on traditional fuel to generate electricity from generators, “But some generators are idle. It is not allowed to enter spare parts to Gaza to fix these generators. So this is a very difficult situation for the hospital.”.

Da Silva talked about the lack of equipment, medical supplies, antibiotics, surgery and medicines facing the hospital, as well as a lack of water and electricity.

He added: “We know that three children have lost their lives because of the lack of electricity as the incubators did not work. We need to provide all the conditions necessary for health. This is not only about equipment, nor medicines that are essential, but also providing safe and sustainable water, and electricity.”.

He stressed that this situation requires working quickly to bring more humanitarian aid and prepare for early recovery.

Early recovery efforts

After the end of his visit to Gaza, the UN official went to Jerusalem and spoke from there through the video at a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services stressed that it is “With the increasing state of uncertainty, we have to focus all efforts to avoid returning to war, which will be an absolute tragedy.”Repeat the call for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay.

He stressed that the office is ready to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and expand the scope of sustainable humanitarian relief. Da Silva said: “According to what I saw today in Gaza, it is very important to make more efforts for early recovery.”.

He cautioned that the needs of recovery and reconstruction are enormous, according to the temporary rapid assessment of the damage and needs, which was conducted by the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations, the total damage to the physical infrastructure as a result of the conflict in the occupied Palestinian land is estimated at at least 29.9 billion dollars.

He added that the housing sector was the most affected, as it lost 15.8 billion dollars, or 53 percent of the total damage.

The UN official emphasized that “In the face of the human tragedy in Gaza, we have a collective and urgent responsibility to move, not only to meet the severe humanitarian needs, but also to plan to recover and reconstruction.”.

An effective and transparent mechanism

Da Silva said that the United Nations Office for Project Services is also working on the United Nations Employment Management Management of 2720 emanating from Security Council Resolution 2720 of 2023Which aims to increase and accelerate the delivery of life -saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He stated that, through that mechanism, until February 13, 2025, nearly 78,000 metric tons of aid were delivered to Gaza, most of which are food (78 percent), followed by shelter (16 %), water, sanitation and hygiene supplies ( Four percent).

He added that “The mechanism is effective, transparent and speeds up the delivery of aid. We hope that the ceasefire will help us maximize the use of the mechanism, expand the scope of delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as early recovery stages and reconstruction later.”.

A surprise of the scale of destruction

As for the other activity that the office does according to the UN official, it is “Work with the United Nations Department of Mine, to alleviate the risk of landmines and unexploded ammunition”.

He pointed out that the removal of an estimated between 40 and 50 million tons of debris and knees resulting from the conflict will take years, adding: “Today I was very surprised by the scale of the destruction. Families belonging to the remains of their homes are at a great danger of unexploded weapons and contaminated rubble.”.

He explained that the employees of disposal of the explosive munitions of the office conducted assessments of threats and risks throughout Gaza, allowing the movement of convoys of humanitarian aid and vital activities.

He said that the office team has completed so far 374 renegals and accompanied 411 high risk convoys to risk areas that are likely to be contaminated with explosive ammunition. He added that to enhance safety, the office also provides education about the risks of explosive munitions for civilians and displaced people internally and relief workers, where 250,000 civilians and about 1,000 humanitarian employees participated in these sessions, “And they gained decisive knowledge to remain safe and move between the effective risk of explosive risks.”.