HAMILTON, Canada

A senior UN official on Thursday highlighted the "deepening" humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, noting that there is more than "60 million (metric) tonnes (66 million tons) of rubble" in the enclave due to Israeli destruction.

"I have just returned from Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is deepening," Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN under-secretary-general and UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services) executive director, said in a statement.

Noting that people in Gaza "are exhausted, traumatized, and overwhelmed," de Silva stressed that "the harsh winter conditions and the heavy rains this week are doubling people’s misery and desperation."

Describing the level of destruction as "overwhelming," he said that "for children, daily life is defined by loss and trauma."

"Gaza has more than 60 million tonnes of rubble: the capacity of nearly 3,000 container ships," he said, adding that "on average every person in Gaza today is surrounded by 30 tonnes of rubble."

"It is likely to take over seven years to clear this rubble," he said.

Expressing UNOPS' "support in clearing rubble, restoring energy, managing waste, and providing shelter," de Silva affirmed that the agency "continues to bring in much-needed fuel for humanitarian purposes."

He described fuel as the "backbone of humanitarian operations" in the enclave, and warned that "without it, hospitals cannot run life-saving health care, water and sanitation systems shut down, food aid cannot be distributed, and communications and transport for emergency responders will be at risk."

"Our teams also work with UN Mine Action to help the communities with widespread risks of unexploded ordnance," he said, welcoming the US announcement of the transition to phase two of the Gaza ceasefire plan.

"This must finally mean the beginning of reconstruction," he said, adding that "early recovery must start right away, including restoring access to basic services."

Echoing the UN's call for improved humanitarian access, he urged the "opening of all crossings and corridors" in Gaza.

"The people of Gaza need an increase in the flow of basic supplies and less restrictions to support the humanitarian response and early recovery. This also includes allowing so-called dual-use items, critical for repairing and restoring access to basic services across the Gaza Strip, including water, primary health care and education for children," he said.

Calling on the international community to engage and "act with urgency beyond the immediate response to the humanitarian crisis," de Silva stressed that "the people of Gaza have endured unspeakable suffering that no human should experience."

In his virtual news conference, de Silva said that "more than 80% of the infrastructure is on the ground," and "there is no other place in the world" that has over 60 million metric tonnes of rubble in such a small area.

"The problem with the rubble is not just the volume," he said, explaining that the main issue is "the content of the rubble," such as asbestos, human remains or unexploded ordnance.