Naji Sarhan ministry of public works and housing undersecretary stated that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has recently reduced quantities of construction material allowed into the Gaza Strip.
“Delaying the reconstruction in besieged Gaza is intended to increase pressure on its people” Sarhan told the PIC reporter.
Sarhan pointed to cooperation with UNRWA in order to speed up the reconstruction process.
Reconstruction Statistics
The Palestinian official said 13000 houses were completely destroyed while 175000 houses were partially damaged in the Israeli war on Gaza in summer 2014.
He also pointed to the existence of a deficit in the programs made for reconstruction including the rent program which suffers a deficit of 45 million dollars.
Partial damages
“Some citizens have received full grants others received a down payment and others did not receive any payments as a result of insufficient funding” the undersecretary stated.
Sarhan praised the role of donors such as Saudi Arabia Qatar and Kuwait for living up to their commitments to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip as well as some European countries such as Germany.
He meanwhile warned that any delay in the reconstruction process would bring about negative repercussions in the besieged enclave.
Khudari: IOA hinders reconstruction of Gaza
In the same context MP Jamal al-Khudari the head of the popular committee against siege said the IOA hinders Gaza’s reconstruction process.
He said in a statement that the IOA is restricting the entry of construction materials and tightening the siege on the Strip with all possible means.
There is no real progress in the reconstruction process the MP said adding that 70000 Palestinians are still homeless in Gaza.
Al-Khudari asked the donors in Cairo Conference in 2014 to meet their obligations fully and called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its siege on Gaza in order to start a real reconstruction process.
