BERLIN (Reuters) – The war in Gaza has devastated the Palestinian economy, which is now 35% smaller than at the start of the Israeli invasion a year ago, while development levels in Gaza itself have fallen to levels seen in the 1950s, the U.N. development agency said.
Launching a new study on the socio-economic impact of a war that Palestinian officials say has killed more than 42,500 people, UNDP’s Chitose Noguchi said that by some measures, poverty levels in the region are now approaching 100% as a result of the disruption, and unemployment now at 80%.
“The State of Palestine is experiencing an unprecedented level of failure,” she said over a crackling line from Deir Al-Balah. “In the case of Gaza, it takes development back about 70 years to 1955.”
