80 countries invited to Gaza reconstruction conference

The Palestinian unity government has invited more than 80 countries to attend the Gaza reconstruction conference scheduled to be held in Cairo on October 12, Deputy Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said yesterday.

In a press statement released during the Arab League’s Economic and Social Council meeting in Cairo, Mustafa said his government had put forward a strategic plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip on three stages over the next five years, and will submit the plan at the donors’ conference. He pointed out that the industrial sector in Gaza as well as entire neighbourhoods have been completely destroyed.

Mustafa expressed his hopes that the efforts in the conference will be accompanied by political efforts for the sake of facilitating the entry of the necessary building materials to Gaza and to enable the government to fully exercise its powers for the reconstruction of the Strip as quickly as possible.

He said that a large number of Gaza’s residents have been able to return to their homes in the aftermath of the ceasefire, but that over 100,000 persons – 20,000 families – are still homeless.

The Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which began on July 7 and lasted for 51 days, has led to the death of at least 2,148 Palestinians and the injury of more than 11,000 others.

Mustafa added that the first step to solving the homelessness problem is to begin addressing the problem of displaced families by providing monthly financial support of between $200 and $250 to each family based on its size as well as financial support to fix what has been destroyed during the Israeli aggression.

UN agencies will also provide temporary homes for displaced families by renting homes or providing mobile houses or renovating the homes which suffered partial damage, while coordinating with Israel to allow for the entry of construction materials.

Following Israel’s so-called “Operation Protective Edge”, the agricultural sector in Gaza suffered $550 million in losses, while the industrial sector’s losses exceeded $1 billion. Unemployment rates increased to 55 per cent, up from 39 per cent before the assault.

The Gaza Strip needs approximately $7.5 billion for its reconstruction.