On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) hosted a public lecture entitled “Assessment to Action in Gaza: UNDP's Immediate Priorities for Rapid Recovery and Rebuilding". The lecture was delivered by Dr. Jaco Cilliers, Special Representative for the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), and moderated by Dr. Nour Allah Munawar, a researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience in crisis response, peacebuilding and development across multiple contexts, Dr. Cilliers reflected on his experience in Gaza, offering comparative insights from other settings such as Ukraine, where he previously served as the UNDP Resident Representative (2022–2025). He began by describing the conditions he had witnessed on his monthly visits to the Gaza Strip, pointing to severe water and electricity shortages, unsafe food supplies, as well as disastrous living conditions. He firmly characterised the situation as the most dire he has encountered throughout his career in the humanitarian field.
In his presentation, Dr. Cilliers provided an overview of the current humanitarian situation in Gaza, quantifying the scale of infrastructure destruction, loss of life and displacement, noting that nearly the entire population of Gaza are now living in multi-dimensional poverty. He further highlighted the vast quantity of debris generated by the destruction, estimated at 61 million tons, revealing that debris removal alone could take around seven years under existing constraints. According to the Rapid Damages Needs Assessment (RDNA), recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at approximately US$72.9 billion.
A central theme of the lecture was the distinction between rapid response and long-term reconstruction. Dr. Cilliers stressed that the current reconstruction proposals prematurely focus on physical rebuilding while bypassing the essential steps of basic service restoration to the people of Gaza. He emphasised that immediate priorities must include access to clean water, food security, and minimum living conditions before any meaningful reconstruction can take place. He described prevailing reconstruction discussions as largely disconnected from realities on the ground, underscoring that physical rebuilding cannot begin before large-scale removal of debris is completed. Dr. Cilliers also drew attention to obstacles which continue to impede recovery efforts, including the longstanding restrictions on the entry of “dual-use" construction materials to Gaza. These restrictions, he explained, significantly complicate both debris clearance and rebuilding efforts, further delaying the timeline of recovery.
The lecture concluded with a screening of a short video featuring the testimony of a young Gazan student determined to succeed in her high school examinations despite the ongoing war. This closing segment highlighted the importance of education for Gazans, which sustains their hope and resilience and shapes their visions for a postwar future. The lecture was attended by a number of researchers and students from the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.