Gaza Strip - January 21, 2025 The city of Rafah in the southernmost region of Gaza is now focusing its efforts to clear conflict-generated rubbles and rebuild with limited resources after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday. As a first step for reconstruction, southern Gaza towns are giving priority to restoring rubble-blocked roads to facilitate the inflow of residents coming back from refugee camps. In Rafah, local authorities have planned to clear rubbles left on city roads in 10 days. However, given the severity of damage caused by over a year of conflict and most of the city's heavy construction machinery destroyed in the conflict, the initial stage of recovery has posed as a tremendous challenge. A United Nations report estimates that it will take approximately 21 years to clear the over 50 million tons of rubbles and debris left by Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. UN officials also said that the war has wiped out nearly 69 years of development in Gaza, with the Mayor of Rafah expressing deep concern over the city's future. Despite the challenging situation, residents are returning to Rafah and they immediately start to assist local authorities with the cleanup efforts. People say no matter how much devastation the war has caused, this is still their home. Shotlist: Rafah, Gaza Strip - Recent: 1. Residents returning home; 2. Various of road, bulldozers; 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Eid, supervisor of local emergency response efforts: "Currently, the biggest challenge is to reopen the city's main thoroughfares. We are trying to create a road wide enough for one or two vehicles to pass. But this is just moving the debris to the side of the road, not fully clearing it. The amount of rubbles is just too overwhelming, and without heavy machinery, it's impossible for us to do the work."; 4. Various of bulldozers clearing rubble; 5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed al-Sufi, mayor of Rafah (ending with shots 6-7): "Right now, we can't fully comprehend the extent of damage to this city. If things progress smoothly, we hope to find out in the coming period whether the city's water and sewage networks have been affected by the war. What you see now is almost all of our bulldozers. We are working hard to clear the main streets and intersections. The civil defense department is also working with the international community and relevant organizations to search for explosive remnants and prepare for the return of more people."; 6. Various of bulldozers clearing rubble; 7. Various of residents walking on rubble; 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed, returning resident (full name not given/starting with shot 7): "Standing in the middle of this city, all I see are rubbles and debris. This place used to be so lively, but now it seems there is no sign of life. After nine months of being away, we've finally come back for the first time. Thank God we're still alive. We are determined to rebuild our home, no matter how many times it has been destroyed. Despite the sadness, pain, and suffering, we will not leave here."; 9. Destroyed buildings, residents walking on rubble. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]