The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union have launched a new €15 million project to support emergency debris removal and strengthen nationally led forensic recovery and identification capacities in the Gaza Strip.
Implemented through the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), the initiative aims to address urgent safety and environmental challenges caused by the large accumulation of rubble and debris while supporting early recovery efforts. The project will focus on removing, processing, and reusing debris, improving coordination, and restoring access to essential infrastructure and services.
Large-scale debris clearance is considered a critical step for recovery, as it can help reopen roads to hospitals, schools, and workplaces, allow families to return to affected neighbourhoods, and improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The project seeks to create safer conditions for communities while supporting longer-term rebuilding efforts.
Over an 18-month period, the initiative will also establish technical capacity for the dignified recovery, forensic examination, and identification of human remains through the creation of a dedicated Gaza Forensic Recovery and Identification Center. The effort aims to provide families with improved processes for recovery and identification while strengthening locally led capabilities.
The project responds to priorities identified by the Palestinian Authority and will be carried out in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Palestinian and international partners. UNDP will focus on developing technical and operational systems that support a coordinated approach to recovery and identification efforts as part of broader debris management activities.
UNDP/PAPP Special Representative Jaco Cilliers highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that millions of tons of debris are affecting access to roads, services, and land across Gaza. He said the partnership with the European Union will help clear pathways for recovery while supporting facilities needed to assist families seeking answers and closure.
The European Union emphasized that debris clearance and forensic support are essential components of early recovery, helping communities regain access to basic services, restore public health conditions, and create foundations for reconstruction and resilience.
The initiative represents a joint effort by UNDP and the European Union to support humanitarian recovery, strengthen local capacities, and contribute to rebuilding efforts in the Gaza Strip.
