Gaza Could Become ‘Uninhabitable’ by 2020, U.N. Report Warns

[jimmy olsen]

What do you guys think? A realistic prospect?

http://time.com/4019509/gaza-uninhabitable-unctad/

Gaza Could Become 'Uninhabitable' by 2020, U.N. Report Warns

Jack Linshi @jacklinshi
  Sept. 1, 2015 Updated: Sept. 6, 2015 12:42 PM ET

"Reconstruction efforts are extremely slow relative to the magnitude of devastation," the report said

The Gaza Strip could become "uninhabitable" within five years, a United Nations report released Tuesday warns, as a result of Israeli military operations and a nearly decade-long blockade that have crippled its economy and infrastructure.

Gaza, a small territory that's home to about 1.8 million Palestinians, had "no time for meaningful reconstruction or economic recovery" after eight years of a devastating Israeli economic blockade, wrote the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its annual report. The agency, which has provided assistance to displaced Palestinians, also attributed the impoverished conditions to three successive Israeli military operations over the past six years.

"The social, health and security-related ramifications of the high population density and overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unliveable by 2020, if present trends continue," the U.N. report said. "Reconstruction efforts are extremely slow relative to the magnitude of devastation, and Gaza's local economy did not have a chance to recover."

The most recent Israeli military operation in 2014 left more than 20,000 Palestinian homes, 148 schools and 60 healthcare centers in Gaza damaged or destroyed, according to the U.N.

Correction: This article originally misstated the period when buildings in Gaza sustained damage as detailed by the U.N. report. It was during the war of 2014.

[Eddie Teach]

Nobody goes to Gaza anymore; it's too crowded.

[Monoriu]

I can't remember the number of people who say that Hong Kong is too crowded and is uninhabitable.  I think humanity is capable of living in densities that are much higher than Gaza's.

[dps]

Unable to sustain the present population?  I'd buy that as a possibility.  Uninhabitable?  No.

[Razgovory]

Well, that would solve a lot of problems.

[Eddie Teach]

I can't remember the number of people who say that Hong Kong is too crowded and is uninhabitable.  I think humanity is capable of living in densities that are much higher than Gaza's.

I don't believe either is capable of feeding itself.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

maybe they should stop trying to kill (all) the jews.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I don't agree that it is a simple binary inhabitable/uninhabitable situation. It would seem likely that the habitability of the region is decreasing, but will it be unihabited by 2020? Ridiculous.

[Valmy]

Hamas voters have to ask themselves: are you better off than you were ten years ago? Too bad because you are never voting again.

But seriously I think the US should have  standing policy: any Palestinian or Israeli who is tired of all the shit should be allowed to move here. Eventually the damn place would be deserted.

[Syt]

1.8 million people live in Gaza? That's impressive considering their size and infrastructure (or lack thereof).

By comparison:

[DGuller]

1.8 million people live in Gaza? That's impressive considering their size and infrastructure (or lack thereof).

By comparison:

And it's not like New York City is particularly inhabitable either.

[alfred russel]

But seriously I think the US should have  standing policy: any Palestinian or Israeli who is tired of all the shit should be allowed to move here. Eventually the damn place would be deserted.

I don't know how well that would be received by the Arabic community. Many are very concerned with the emigration from Palestine and what impact that is having on the demographics of the region. There is a widespread opinion that Israeli policy is designed to encourage them to leave so that the Jews can take over the West Bank and East Jerusalem. I would think a proposal like what you propose would be viewed as supplementing what the Israelis are theoretically trying to do (considering I doubt all that many Israelis would want to leave).

[Valmy]

Nationalists don't give a shit if people suffer so they can use human beings as weapons to wage their nationalistic douchebag wars? Shocking.

And fuck them and their demographics. When 5 million Pals are starving to death in the Gaza strip they will declare victory I am sure. 'We made the Israelis look bad! Hurrah!'

(considering I doubt all that many Israelis would want to leave)

The fact we have 500,000 of them living here suggests otherwise.

[lustindarkness]

Gaza Could Become 'Uninhabitable' by 2020, yeah, when Iran nukes Israel the whole area will be uninhabitable for a while.

[The Brain]

I don't agree that it is a simple binary inhabitable/uninhabitable situation. It would seem likely that the habitability of the region is decreasing, but will it be unihabited by 2020? Ridiculous.

Yeah an empty Gaza in 2020 seems highly unlikely.