UNRWA completes first phase of Saudi funded refugee social housing project

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Hundreds of Palestinian refugee families have expressed overwhelming joy after being allocated new homes in the city of Rafah.

A Palestinian refugee housing project funded through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) using Saudi Arabian finance has completed the construction of 750 new houses in Rafah city. The houses were opened last month and each qualifying Palestinian family was allocated a new home. Special service facilities such as schools, mosques, a market and gardens have also been set up in the vicinity while both main and subsidiary roads have been paved.

Many of the refugees being re-housed previously lived along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. A number of them also lived illegally on Palestinian government land and were evicted by the relevant authorities. Many have also been exposed to significant levels of harm over the past few years as their homes were often in the firing line during the intifada while others were razed to the ground.

The opening of these homes marks completion of the first phase of UNRWA’s Saudi Arabian project to re-house residents of demolished homes in Rafah and puts an end to the eight years of suffering endured by hundreds of these displaced families.

It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabian funding will continue to be used in the construction of dozens of housing units as part of a number of upcoming projects which aim to house those in difficult social circumstances.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad