Reconstruction that is only about buildings can entrench displacement instead of ending it, a United Nations expert warned on Thursday, as she presented her report to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Paula Gaviria Betancur, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, said reconstruction needs have reached an unprecedented scale — more than US$71 billion in Gaza, US$11 billion in Lebanon, US$216 billion in the Syrian Arab Republic, and some US$588 billion in Ukraine, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). Yaani: US$588 billion is about 58,800 crore dollars, US$216 billion is about 21,600 crore dollars, US$71 billion is about 7,100 crore dollars and US$11 billion is about 1,100 crore dollars.

Source: OHCHR

"The ultimate test of reconstruction is not how many buildings are rebuilt, but whether people can rebuild their lives without fear of being uprooted again," Gaviria Betancur said. "Reconstruction is never neutral. Who decides, who pays and who benefits will determine whether reconstruction repairs or deepens the harm done to displaced communities."

She cautioned that reconstruction too often focuses on physical structures, overlooking the people whose lives have been shattered, and called for a rights-based approach including safety, economic opportunities, stronger public institutions and restoring the social fabric of affected communities.

The Ukraine figure is consistent with the joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment released by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the United Nations, which estimated almost US$588 billion in reconstruction and recovery needs over the next decade. Gaviria Betancur said national authorities must lead the process, backed by reliable data and accountability, while international cooperation and sustained funding remain essential.