State of the World from NPR How to Deal with Mountains of Rubble in Gaza
Oct 20, 2025
Gaza faces monumental challenges in its postwar recovery, with about ninety percent of buildings damaged or destroyed. Local and international efforts to clear rubble highlight the risks of unexploded ordnance as helpers sift through debris. The need for reconstruction is dire, yet funding and material shortages hinder progress. Humanitarian concerns grow as water systems are contaminated and displaced families struggle without schools. Insightful interviews reveal the urgent realities on the ground and the complexity of rebuilding a devastated region.
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Scale Of Destruction Is Overwhelming
- Gaza shows near-total urban destruction with almost no undamaged buildings visible as you drive through.
- The scale of rubble equals filling a 12-meter wall around Central Park, highlighting massive clearance needs.
Children Searching Amid Rubble
- Selyer observed children as young as five digging through rubble and standing in lines for water and food.
- He emphasized these children should be in school but haven't attended for two years.
Clear, Sort, And Recycle Rubble
- Prioritize clearing unexploded ordnance before general rubble removal to reduce risk.
- Sort and crush rubble at plants so materials can be recycled for roads, tent bases, and future reconstruction.