Head of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has likened the destruction in Gaza to the ruins left behind by a massive earthquake, stressing the urgent need for recovery to prevent an even deeper humanitarian catastrophe.

“What I saw in Gaza is similar to what you see in a massive earthquake, where things collapse completely,” Jorge Moreira da Silva said in a virtual press conference following his visit to the war-torn enclave.

He underscored the immediate necessity of rebuilding essential infrastructure, stating, “The recovery in Gaza is possible the same way that has been possible in places affected by massive earthquakes.”

Hospitals, he warned, are facing dire shortages of medical supplies, resulting in life-threatening conditions. “Surgeries are being performed without anesthesia, and infections are spreading due to the lack of antibiotics,” he said.

The UN official added that newborns are among the most vulnerable. “Three babies died because there was no electricity, and incubators were not functioning.”

Moreira da Silva also highlighted the severe deterioration of essential services, with water and sanitation systems no longer operational and hospitals forced to rely on contaminated groundwater. “Electricity, energy, and water are fundamental,” he said.

He described the risks displaced families encounter when returning to the ruins of their homes, facing threats from unexploded ordnance and hazardous debris.

Additionally, he noted that the destruction of solar panels has left hospitals dependent on failing diesel generators, with spare parts blocked from entering Gaza. “The generators obviously are broken, and the spare parts are not allowed to be brought to Gaza,” he said. “So, you can see the dilemma.”

He emphasized that recovery must start with clearing debris and rehabilitating roads before full-scale reconstruction can take place. “You cannot remove the rubble without rehabilitating the roads. I've been there—it’s impossible to circulate. We shouldn’t even call them roads,” he said.

Calling for a collaborative international effort, he concluded, “UNOPS cannot do it alone. No agency can do it alone. The level of destruction requires strong partnerships within the multilateral system.”

Moreira da Silva also strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s calls to take over Gaza and forcibly relocate its population. “Forced displacement is not consistent with international law,” he said. “Let’s not make the situation more difficult and complex than it is now.”