80 PERCENT GAZA CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HALTED
Almakhallalaty said the Ministry of Information headquarters in Gaza city, “80% of MOH construction projects are halted as a result of the tightened Israeli siege, the lack of building materials and other necessary related construction materials.
A Gaza official Sunday revealed that the United Arab Emirates suspended the implementation of a housing project worth $50 million in central Gaza Strip, ALRAY, Palestinian Media Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as repoting.
Minister of Housing and Public Works in Gaza, Dr Yousef al-Ghraiz, told ALRAY in an interview that “a UAE official lately informed us that work on the ‘ex-prisoner city’ project came to a halt”.
Ghraiz said the project team has completed 70% of engineering design process, but they were surprised with the suspension of the project.
The UAE contact did not give any reasons for the move.
In January 2013, the UAE donated $50 million to build “Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan City’ project on an area of 100 dunums to house prisoners released from Israeli jails.
Last year, Qatar pledged $400 million in reconstruction funds to the Gaza Strip, and construction material for the projects entered Gaza via Egypt in late December, following a six-year ban enforced by Egypt and ‘Israel’.
Gaza has been reeling under a seven-year economic Israeli blockade, worsened by Egypt cracking down on smuggling tunnels once used by Gazans to bring building items.
President of General Association of Palestinian Workers’ Syndicates said recently that the stranglehold on the Gaza Strip resulted in an estimated unemployment rate of 45% .
Aref Jendiya 38, a construction worker and a father of 10 children, used to earn 1500 NIS every month. Today, he makes zero income.
Jendyia told that he has been jobless and sitting at home for six months. “My employer was forced to discharge me and other workers because of the lack of building materials needed to continue work ,” he explained.
Losing his only work makes Jendyia unable to provide for his family and meet their main needs. “I can’t even give my children one NIS and they go to their schools crying because they want to get chocolate, chips and biscuits like their mates, he added.
Like many of Gaza residents, he is depending on aid from charities and international and local relief organizations. (T/P04/E01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
