Gaza Begins Mass Cleanup to Restore Dignity and Normal Life

Volunteers, NGOs and UN officials take part in the “We Will Rebuild Gaza” campaign.

A large-scale campaign under the slogan “We Will Rebuild Gaza” was launched on Saturday in Gaza City, bringing together local organisations and UN agencies to begin clearing debris and initiating major cleaning operations after months of devastating conflict.

Dozens of participants — including UN officials, volunteers, and residents who recently returned from the south of the Strip — joined the effort in the city centre. Among them was a woman in a wheelchair holding a sign that read “We Will Rebuild Gaza,” symbolising the community’s determination to rebuild.

Amjad Al-Shawa, Director of the Palestinian NGO Network, said the initiative delivers “a shared message to the world that the people of Gaza are capable of bringing life back to their city.”

He noted that specialised engineering teams have already begun exploring solutions to manage more than 60 million tonnes of debris left behind by the destruction of homes and infrastructure. He stressed that “today’s volunteer campaign is only the beginning of a long process until Gaza returns more beautiful than it was.”

UN agency officials also joined the cleanup, reaffirming their commitment to supporting local recovery efforts.

Alessandro Marakic, an official with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said: “We are here with the local authorities, civil society organisations, and the Chamber of Commerce to start the cleaning operations. What we are witnessing today is people returning to their city and regaining part of their dignity by restoring order to the streets.”

He added that the programme continues daily solid-waste collection and is preparing plans for the upcoming winter season to ensure the proper management of water and wastewater.

Heavy machinery and trucks were deployed across the area to clear debris from major roads, while dozens of workers and volunteers helped remove waste and clean public spaces. The effort forms part of wider initiatives aimed at reviving life in Gaza after prolonged destruction.