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Israel-Gaza Crisis: Reconstruction of flattened Gaza will cost £5billion, Palestinian officials say Israel-Gaza Crisis: Reconstruction of flattened Gaza will cost £5billion, Palestinian officials say
(1 day later)
It will cost $7.8billion (£4.8billion) to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has said.It will cost $7.8billion (£4.8billion) to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has said.
The almost two month-long conflict – which ended with a ceasefire that has so far been maintained since 26 August – saw Israeli bombing destroy sprawling neighbourhoods, 20,000 homes and the Strip’s sole power plant.The almost two month-long conflict – which ended with a ceasefire that has so far been maintained since 26 August – saw Israeli bombing destroy sprawling neighbourhoods, 20,000 homes and the Strip’s sole power plant.
According to Reuters, the PA said that reconstructing people’s flattened houses will cost $2.5billion (£1.5billion), while $250million (£153million) will be needed to replace energy infrastructure.According to Reuters, the PA said that reconstructing people’s flattened houses will cost $2.5billion (£1.5billion), while $250million (£153million) will be needed to replace energy infrastructure.
“The attack on Gaza this time had no precedent, Gaza has been hit with a catastrophe and it needs immediate help because many things can't wait long,” Mohammed Shtayyeh, an official with West Bank's Fatah party, said.“The attack on Gaza this time had no precedent, Gaza has been hit with a catastrophe and it needs immediate help because many things can't wait long,” Mohammed Shtayyeh, an official with West Bank's Fatah party, said.
Mr Shtayyeh, who is also an economist, said Gaza would be relying on international aid for the reconstruction project, in addition the eradication of Palestinian rivalry and the opening of Israel-Palestine border crossings.Mr Shtayyeh, who is also an economist, said Gaza would be relying on international aid for the reconstruction project, in addition the eradication of Palestinian rivalry and the opening of Israel-Palestine border crossings.
Its forecast comes amid growing anger at Israel’s alleged withholding of non-Israeli-made reconstruction materials from entering Gaza.
An EU source speaking on condition of anonymity told EurActiv: “If you want aid materials to be permitted to enter, they will almost inevitably come from Israeli sources.
“I don’t think you’ll find it written down anywhere in official policy, but when you get to negotiate with the Israelis, this is what happens. It increases construction and transaction costs, and is a political problem that has to be dealt with.
“It can be very difficult to export materials to Gaza. A lot of goods for a Gaza private sector reconstruction project we had, ended up being held in Ashdod port for very lengthy periods of time – months if not years – so there was de facto no alternative but to use Israeli sources,” adding that the financial benefit of these regulations to the Israeli economy can be measured in millions of Euros.
The reconstruction assessment by the PA had also allocated $670million (£410million) to Gazan air and sea ports, which are currently denied by Israel, as well as $143million (£87million) to help schools get back up and running.The reconstruction assessment by the PA had also allocated $670million (£410million) to Gazan air and sea ports, which are currently denied by Israel, as well as $143million (£87million) to help schools get back up and running.
Gaza’s gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $2.438billion in 2011, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the same as the African nation of Lesotho.Gaza’s gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $2.438billion in 2011, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the same as the African nation of Lesotho.
This amount includes the economic value in its agriculture, construction and education industries as well as the net VAT on all imports, and is an amount far lower than that of the other occupied Palestinian territory - the West Bank, whose GDP was $7.336billion in 2011.This amount includes the economic value in its agriculture, construction and education industries as well as the net VAT on all imports, and is an amount far lower than that of the other occupied Palestinian territory - the West Bank, whose GDP was $7.336billion in 2011.
On its own, it would take Gaza a number of years to accumulate the money it needs to pay for reconstruction.On its own, it would take Gaza a number of years to accumulate the money it needs to pay for reconstruction.
For comparison, the UK’s GDP in the same year was $2.462trillion, according to the World Bank.For comparison, the UK’s GDP in the same year was $2.462trillion, according to the World Bank.
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), 2,101 Palestinian people lost their lives in the 50-day conflict, most of whom were civilians, with thousands more injured and as many as half a million displaced.According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), 2,101 Palestinian people lost their lives in the 50-day conflict, most of whom were civilians, with thousands more injured and as many as half a million displaced.
Sixty-four Israeli soldiers are understood to have died in addition to six civilians.Sixty-four Israeli soldiers are understood to have died in addition to six civilians.
Minor repairs to shelters and the homes of refugees, using materials available on the local market such as with windows and doors, will be conducted by UNRWA as soon as its assessment of the damage is completed.Minor repairs to shelters and the homes of refugees, using materials available on the local market such as with windows and doors, will be conducted by UNRWA as soon as its assessment of the damage is completed.
A Palestinian has his hair cut at a Gaza barber shop during power cuts on 31 August 2014 UNRWA added: “For the uninhabitable homes, it remains unclear how shelter construction is to start under the current access regime imposed by the Government of Israel, which does not allow construction material on the local market.”A Palestinian has his hair cut at a Gaza barber shop during power cuts on 31 August 2014 UNRWA added: “For the uninhabitable homes, it remains unclear how shelter construction is to start under the current access regime imposed by the Government of Israel, which does not allow construction material on the local market.”
Another recent UN report has revealed the crushing impact Israel’s last few assaults have had on the Palestinian economy, pushing it to near collapse.Another recent UN report has revealed the crushing impact Israel’s last few assaults have had on the Palestinian economy, pushing it to near collapse.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said the seven-year blockade and ground incursions have resulted in the deterioration of Gaza’s economy to the point of forced dependency on Israel, as well as “mass employment, wider and deeper poverty, and greater food insecurity”.The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said the seven-year blockade and ground incursions have resulted in the deterioration of Gaza’s economy to the point of forced dependency on Israel, as well as “mass employment, wider and deeper poverty, and greater food insecurity”.