New York: Making Gaza safe again from the unexploded bombs rained down by the Israeli war machine could take 14 years, UN demining experts said Friday.

Pehr Lodhammar, a senior officer from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), said that the conflict had left an estimated 37 million tonnes of debris.

 He said it was impossible to determine the exact amount of unexploded ordnance in the enclave where formerly heavily built-up and densely populated neighbourhoods had been reduced to rubble, after nearly seven months of intense Israeli bombardment.

Every square metre in Gaza impacted by the Israeli attacks contained some 200 kilogrammes of rubble, the veteran UN demining expert told journalists in Geneva. “All I can say is that at least 10 per cent of the ammunition that is being fired potentially fails to function…with 100 trucks we’re talking about 14 years of work with 100 trucks, so that’s 14 years to remove with about 750,000 workdays – person workdays – to remove the debris.”

Meanwhile, UN humanitarians repeated warnings that famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, in a renewed urgent appeal for more aid relief to be allowed into the enclave. Israel pledged three weeks ago to improve aid access via the Erez Crossing just north of Gaza and Ashdod cargo port, further northwards.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that a small increase in aid had happened, but not nearly enough in volume – or diversity. “We’re still heading towards a famine, we haven’t seen that paradigm shift that’s needed to avert a famine, we need more volume, more predictability and a sustained effort to get more diverse assistance into the north,” said Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director.

Amid reports of sustained Israeli strikes on eastern Rafah, Skau underlined continuing deep concerns that any ground invasion of the enclave’s southernmost city risked disrupting already insufficient aid distributions.

 And turning to efforts to establish a marine corridor for humanitarian aid, the WFP official insisted that “there is no substitute for land” deliveries into Gaza. In a related development, top rights experts have appealed to Israel for safe passage for a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The “Freedom Flotilla” plans to depart from Türkiye carrying 5,500 tonnes of aid, along with hundreds of international humanitarian observers, en route for the besieged Gaza Strip.

“As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid,” said the experts, who include Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food.

In 2010, the experts noted that Israel intercepted and attacked the Freedom Flotilla’s civilian ships in international waters, killing 10 passengers and wounding many others.

At the time, the Freedom Flotilla had attempted to break the Israeli blockade by delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Lahore: In the fifth T20I match, Pakistan levelled the series as it beat New Zealand by nine runs on Saturday.

Pakistan had set 179-run target for Kiwis.

The Kiwis could score 169 runs while chasing the target against loss of three wickets.

Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first. The national team scored 178 runs, losing 5 wickets.

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam remained the top scorer with 69 runs, followed by Fakhar Zaman with 43 and Usman Khan with 31 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed scored 6 runs, while Saim Ayub scored 1 run before getting out.

From New Zealand's side, James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, William O'Rourke, and Zak Evans each took one wicket.

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

Peshawar: Members of the business community urged the government and the State Bank of Pakistan to cut interest rates to flourish industries, trade and businesses and improve the economy of the country.

The business community said prices of import items and raw materials increased exorbitantly owing to the gradual increase in policy rate by the central bank, consequently cost of doing business also increased and inflation also jacked up.

According to details, a meeting of businessmen was held under the Chairmanship of Industrialists Association Peshawar President Ayub Zakori in the IAP office, said in a press release issued here on Saturday.

Besides, IAP former presidents, executive members and senior members and industrialists, members of the business community were present on the occasion. The participants of the meeting said that the further increase in the policy rate will work under the prevailing scenario.

“At 25-26pc interest rate, it is hard to borrow from the banks,” he said, adding that it will be hard for the government to earn revenue due to a decline in large-scale manufacturing.

Participants of the meeting said it is very hard for businesses and industry to survive on high-interest rates at a time when the soaring power and gas tariff had already pushed up the cost of doing business, making exports uncompetitive in the world market.