Gaza Strip - Preliminary Debris Quantification: Damage Assessment Analysis: 29 February 2024

This initial quantification of conflict-generated debris in the Gaza Strip is derived from a UNOSAT Comprehensive Damage Assessment using imagery from 29 February 2024, in conjunction with updated building footprint as of May 2023 based on the national statistical office data. The assessment estimates that 37.5 million tonnes of debris have been produced, reflecting a 63% increase since January 2024. Destruction spans all governorates, with Gaza Governorate alone accounting for over 15 million tonnes. In total, 88,868 structures—about 35% of all buildings—are damaged, including 31,198 destroyed. Each built square meter is considered to have generated 1 tonne of debris, and the results are aggregated into a 250m-wide H3 hexagonal grid for operational planning. While preliminary and not yet field-validated, these findings highlight the unprecedented scale of damage and are intended to guide urgent debris management and humanitarian actions.