Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Satellite Centre - UNOSAT released a comprehensive assessment of the damage and destruction inflicted on structures in the Gaza Strip. The analysis, based on very high-resolution satellite imagery collected on 6 and 7 January, paints a stark picture of the extent of devastation in the Gaza Strip.
The satellite imagery, acquired on 6 and 7 January 2024, was compared to images from 1 May 2023, 10 May 2023, 18 September 2023, 15 October 2023, 7 November 2023, and 26 November 2023.
22,131 structures have been identified as destroyed, with an additional 14,066 deemed severely damaged and 32,950 moderately damaged. In total, a staggering 69,147 structures, equivalent to approximately 30% of the Gaza Strip's total structures, are affected.
Further analysis reveals that the governorates of Gaza and Khan Yunis have experienced the most significant increase in damage, witnessing 10,280 and 11,894 newly damaged structures, respectively compared with our previous analysis based on an image acquired the 26 November. Gaza City, in particular, has been hit hard, with 8,926 newly destroyed structures.
Beyond the number of damaged buildings, this update of our last damage assessment provides an estimate of the number of households impacted by the destruction. This assessment has been developed thanks to inter-agency cooperation leading to the development of a new baseline dataset. The new findings provide an estimated figure of 93,800 housing units damaged in the Gaza Strip.
The satellite imagery analysis conducted by UNOSAT underscores the widespread destruction and the affected population's need for support.
UNOSAT will continue to closely monitor the situation and collaborate with humanitarian and development partners to provide accurate and timely information for effective response efforts.
