JUST TWO PERCENT OF PLEDGES PAID FOR REBUILDING GAZA

The Gaza international donors conference in Cairo October 12, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Gaza, 29 Safar 1436/22 December 2014 (MINA) –Palestinian and international officials have revealed that only 2 per cent of the pledges made by donor states to rebuild the Gaza Strip have actually been paid. The pledges were made in a donor conference in Egypt two months ago.

A total of $5.4 billion was pledged for the reconstruction of the beleaguered territory after it was destroyed during Israel’s latest war against the civilians of Gaza during the summer. Of the major donors, Qatar pledged $1 billion, Saudi Arabia $500 million and the EU $780 million.

According to UN officials, just $100 million has been handed over from donors, Middle East Monitor quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“We received funds and pledges worth about $100 million for shelters and house renovation,” said Robert Turner, the Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza. “This money will run out in December in the middle of a harsh winter.” The shortfall, he added, is $620 million.

It was expected that half of these pledges would have been spent on rebuilding houses and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and the remainder would boost the Palestinian Authority’s budget.

Palestinian Housing Minister Mofeed Al-Hasayneh said that the Arab states did not pay anything from their pledges for this month. The Europeans, however, have paid “a few millions”.(T/R04/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)