AUT disaster response expert on Gaza

AUT disaster response expert on Gaza

After two years of war, the United Nations estimates 84 percent of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed, with that number increasing to 92 percent in Gaza City. The UN says about US$70 billion will be needed to reconstruct the enclave.

But with an estimated 60 million tonnes of rubble across the territory, and a population of more than 2 million - many of whom have been trapped in famine - where does one start?

AUT's Professor Regan Potangaroa explains.

"At this stage, UN agencies and international NGOs will be coordinating efforts, as best as access and security allow, to assess and prioritise immediate needs," say Professor Potangaroa, a global expert in humanitarian engineering, who has been involved in more than 200 UN deployments in 22 countries.

"Reliable access for aid will be one of the first challenges, alongside determining the exact nature and scale of needs on the ground.

"I'd expect key priorities to include dealing with unexploded ordnance (UXO) like landmines, bombs, and grenades," he says.

Professor Potangaroa says other immediate priorities will be restoring basic health and medical services, ensuring food and water supplies, and providing emergency shelter and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) support.

He says reconstruction will take much longer.

"Before rebuilding can begin, there's typically a focus on debris removal and management, damage assessment, and restoring essential infrastructure such as roads, water, and power, all of which are prerequisites for housing and public buildings.

"It's a massive logistical and coordination task involving on the ground authorities, the UN system, and international partners."

Professor Potangaroa says that while disaster contexts vary, the response template depending on whether it is natural disaster or conflict remains much the same.

Useful links:

• Professor Regan Potangaroa academic profile
• Study architecture and built environment at AUT