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Nearly 500 days have passed since the October 7 massacre, and significant progress has been made in the rehabilitation of the Tkuma region and the city of Sderot.
The Tkuma directorate reported on Monday that most residents across the 45 communities in the region have returned to their homes, with 83% of the population back in their communities after the devastating attack by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel.
According to the Tkuma directorate’s latest data, about 53,000 of the approximately 64,000 residents have successfully returned to their homes, marking a major milestone in the recovery process.
However, 13 communities are still uninhabitable due to ongoing security risks and challenges related to reconstruction efforts.
These communities include Be’eri, Kissufim, Kerem Shalom, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Nirim, Sufa, Ein Hashlosha, Re’im, Netiv Ha’asara, Holit, and Nir Yitzhak.
The report also highlights the significant financial investments made to support the rebuilding efforts.
The directorate has allocated NIS 7 billion from its five-year NIS 19 billion budget in 2024 alone, with approximately NIS 1.1 billion dedicated to the 10 communities hardest hit by the October 7 attack.
This investment is intended to help restore infrastructure, homes, and community facilities, with the majority of the work set to be completed by the end of 2025.
Several communities, including Sderot, Or Haner, Erez, Mefalsim, Nir Am, Ein Habesor, Yad Mordechai, and Karmia, have seen significant progress in rehabilitation, with many of these areas now at advanced stages of rebuilding.
The Tkuma directorate projects that work in Kibbutz Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Holit, and Nir Oz will be concluded by 2026.
For residents displaced by the violence, temporary housing has been a priority. In Kibbutz Hatzerim, 184 housing units and six educational facilities have been made available for Kfar Aza residents. Be’eri residents were provided with 287 temporary housing units.
Additionally, 61 units were allocated to residents of Holit in Kibbutz Revivim, while members of the Kissufim community are temporarily residing in Omer.
In Be’eri, rehabilitation efforts are particularly extensive. Approximately 70 homes out of 150 designated for demolition have already been torn down, and around 250 of the 400 damaged homes have been renovated.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the Tkuma directorate’s report reflects a significant step forward in the region’s recovery and reconstruction efforts, as residents continue to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
The road to full recovery remains long, but the collective efforts of the Israeli government, local authorities, and community members are steadily restoring the heart of the Tkuma region, reaffirming the resilience of its people in the face of immense adversity.