Gaza, 24/10/2016 --- Within the activities of #GazaIncompleteReconstruction, Press House organized a meeting entitled" the displaced between journalists a& Officials", in the presence of a number of the people of the caravans in a purpose of directly sharing their suffering with the officials and media.
The meeting led by the journalist Mohammad Abu Jayyab, Head of Editors in Al-eqtisadiah newspaper, was attended by Basel Nasser, head of UNDP programs- Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the ministry of public works- Eng.Moa'een Mqat, head of reconstruction issue in UNRWA- Osama Khail, Palestinian Contractors of Builders.
Belal Jadallah, chairman of Press House, said ;" This campaign aims at shedding the light on the suffering of the displaced of the caravans' people, and delivering a message to the world and international community to pay the attention of them to the suffering of the strip so that the reconstruction could be accelerated by the coming of winter.
Jadallah noted that the first day of the campaign went very well, as the hash-tag "#GazaIncompleteReconstruction" got the trend of tweets, adding that the third day will be for an exhibition of photos that show the suffering of people of caravans and the displaced.
In his turn, Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the ministry of public works, said; that 171,000 housing units got destructed during the last aggression, 11,000 completely destroyed, 6800 unlivable , 5700 severe-partially destroyed, and 147 slightly damaged.
He showed that 2000 houses were destroyed before the last aggression of 2014, and other 2000 partially damaged till now, which makes the total number of the houses that need to be rebuilt 13,000, and other 157,000 need to be repaired.
Sarhan confirmed that the fund required to cover the cost of the complete reconstruction is one billion and 38 million$, where 115 million will be for aid and housing programs, and 338 million for reconstruction.
He explained that the available funds for reconstruction after two years from the aggression amounted 552 million$, which equals half of the required funds- with a percentage of 53%.
About housing the displaced, he confirmed that 1199 families had been placed in Caravans, 433 of woof and other of iron.
About the slight destruction, Sarhan said that 180 out of 338million $ had been afforded, which equals a percentage of 46%. Financial payments had been granted for 100,000 people, representing 62%
About the total destruction, Sarhan said; " 585 million $ is required for this program; 495 for the houses destroyed in 2014 and 90 million for the destruction before 2014, noting that 296 million is available that 7461 out of 13,000 a percentage of 57.4%, will be granted with.
He noted that 4500 houses are being rebuilt, while 2000 are completely rebuilt, noting that the total required fund for rebuilding the houses is 288 million $.
Regarding Getting Rid Of Rubbles Program, Sarhan asserted that all the rubbles have been removed. It had been crushed and recycled to be used in street works, in cooperation with UNDP. Citizens got rid of 800,000 ton and UNDP got rid of 100,000 ton.
Regarding the cement, 1 million and 143,000 ton of cement had been entered to the Gaza strip since the start of strategy of UN, Palestinian Authority and Israel, where 400,000 ton for projects.
Sarhan noted that 741,000 was discharged for citizens, and 354,000 ton is for people who were confirmed and waiting for cement to be entered .
In the same context, he showed that 3640 names have been sent to Israel after they were confirmed by the civil affairs, noting that no name has been confirmed for 4 months. Worth noting that the convention states that the confirmation on the names must be in 48 hours.
About the Kuwaiti grant, which is amounted 2250 names, Sarhan confirmed that they have received the first installment of 1700 people. Added to this, 305 names have received the second installment, while others have been sent to Kuwait with hope that a fund to be sent for this by the end of the current month or next month.
He added that the reason beyond the late fund from Kuwait is that the grant's procedures take much time, noting that 4,000 people are waiting for confirmation , so that the cement could be entered.
In his turn, Bassem Nasser, head of UNDP, asserted that devoting efforts to complete reconstruction process for all sectors is a must, indicating that the organizations and officials devoted and are still devoting great efforts to get the required funds for all building sectors.
He added that UNDP had conducted inventory for the whole destruction in all sectors, in cooperation with the ministries, federations, industries, and unions of chambers of commerce.
Nasser said;" Conducting an inventory for the whole destruction was important, which helped the Palestinian authority to prepare the required plans for fund.
He added that his organization removed (one million and 100,000 ton) of rubbles, where 450,000 ton was recycled and used in streets projects. Nasser stressed that Removing Rubbles Project contributed to creating 42,000 job opportunities for jobless people.
" The organization funded a rent for 3800 displayed families with a an amount of ( 15 million $)" He said. He thanked all the donors who have been standing by Palestinians' side, especially Saudi Development box, Islamic Bank for Development, the Swedish and Norwegian governments, as well as Korea.
Nasser said that the organization could afford 43 million $ till now, and 15 million for the next period, for the rebuilding the partially destroyed houses, indicating that the fund for reconstruction is still not enough.
He added that his organization contributed to rebuilding 75% of the totally destroyed houses, and 30% of the partially or slightly destroyed houses, with a total of 13600 housing units.
He assured that UNDP implement employing jobless people programs, including a program for graduates amounted 16 million $ in a total of 8000 job opportunities.
Regarding Education sector, he showed that they got grant of 21 million $ from the Kuwaiti government for building 53 educational units, noting that 37 facilities are completely done.
Regarding health sector, the organization got a fund of 1 million& 80,000 $ for building two departments for children & nurseries, and Atta Habeeb health center in Shujaeya. Added to this, an amount of 2.5 million $ have been got for building networks of water, electricity, and water tanks.
Nasser indicated that the fund granted for sector is not enough, hoping that everyone could make the required for reconstruction as soon as possible.
In his turn, Moeen mqat, head of reconstruction file in UNRWA, said; " UNRWA conducted assessment scurvies for the refugees of people, including 7400 houses that need to a complete reconstruction and 133,000 need a partial reconstruction"
He added that since reconstruction process, UNRWA paid 215 million $, approximately 40 million for rent investment and 39 million for the total destruction and 130 million for the partial.
He confirmed that as soon as there's late reconstruction process, there is an increase on the cost of renting, which can be invested in 900 houses.
Mqat indicated that UNRWA implemented a number of big projects, but there's lack of donation, adding that the complete reconstruction needs 720 million $.
Regarding the partially destroyed houses, Mqat saud that there are two groups; livable and unlivable. According to this, the priority of the unlivable houses was given.
Mqat mentioned that 95% of the unlivable houses amounted to 5500, while there are 1200 houses being repaired, noting 60% out of the partially destroyed &unlivable houses are now done and the rest need to be reconstructed since 2001.
He said that things are getting worse, since there are 3900 people on the waiting list since the last April , because Israel hasn't sent any confirmation till now yet, affecting reconstruction process.
He explained that according to the plan set by UN with the Palestinian Authority and the private sector, reconstruction needs three years, while only 30% has been done as 500 out of 7400 houses have been rebuilt.
In his turn, Osama Kuhail, head of Palestinian contractors, said ;" The pains have started since the signature of UN on reconstruction, asserting that reconstruction couldn't get anything back, and the numbers that the officials are talking about in this issues are real.
He confirmed the contractors federation will not get through any conventions for reconstruction, asking UN to rethink of it and absolutely refusing any convention.
Kuhail added that the procedures taken for reconstruction compel them to reject this strict policy, since it doesn't meet the needs and hopes, noting that Israel goes on worsening the issue till it got that way with absence of Palestinian interest.
The report of the international bank shows that 46% of funds allocated for reconstruction have been delivered but only 16% has been accomplished, noting that 23% out of the money went for (GRM) and UNPOS organization.
Kuhail followed; " in the convention called "Ropert Siri", the General Coordinator of Israel frankly said that it's prepared by the Israeli army and sent to UN, which gave it forward to the Palestinian Authority in advance. We got it completely ready with signatures, where we didn't have a right to edit or add." He noted that there's an Israeli plan smartly prepared according to Israel claims.
He confirmed that the entrance of cement without following the convention will afford 80,000 job opportunities in Gaza , and save 30% of the building costs.
At the end of the meeting, a discussion door was opened for the people of caravans and displaced as well as for the attendees to ask any questions, where a group expressed their suffering due to late construction, and the official answered all the requires.
