The May 2021 hostilities were the fourth round of offensive by Israel on the Gaza Strip, following the 2008, 2012, and 2014 hostilities. It resulted in devastating consequences, taking the lives of 261 Palestinians, including 67 children and 41 women. It led to a considerable destruction of residential and commercial buildings, as well as damages of schools, health facilities, water and power networks, roads, and public buildings, which in turn disrupted the provision of vital basic services.

UNDP led the design and implementation of a detailed infrastructure damage assessment from June to August 2021 in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MoPWH) as well as line ministries, municipalities, the Palestinian Contractors Union (PCU), UNRWA, UNMAS, and in consultation with UN agencies, the cluster coordinators, and civil society actors.

The primary purpose of the assessment was to identify real damages resulting from the May 2021 hostilities, to inform rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery interventions.  It provides an estimate of two types of costs: a) reconstruction / rehabilitation to the state it was before the destruction / damages (Building Back as was – BBaw), and b) reconstruction / rehabilitation incorporating the principles of Building Forward Better.