Michael de Laine

Collapsed buildings in Gaza must be cleared before aid can arrive - UNDP

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 6th February 2009

Collapsed buildings and unexploded ammunition in Gaza must be cleared away before the longer-term reconstruction can start, according to the UNDP. The UN has appealed for US$60 million to help rebuild the infrastructure and ensure access to food, water, health services and education.

Almost 600,000 tons of collapsed buildings in Gaza must be cleared away before the longer-term reconstruction can start, according to the local office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A UNDP survey shows that more than 14,000 homes, 68 government buildings and 31 offices of various organisations were partly or wholly destroyed during Israel’s three-week-long military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Clearing the collapsed buildings has the highest priority,” said Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, the UNDP’s special representative in the occupied Palestinian territories. “In the ruins there are toxic materials and undoubtedly also unexploded ammunition. They must be removed as quickly as possible, to protect human lives and to enable us to start the necessary humanitarian and social aid.”

On Monday, the UN appealed for US$60 million in immediate aid to help Gazans rebuild the infrastructure and ensure access to food, water, health services and education. UNDP will use about US$4.8 million to clear away the building rubble and unexploded munitions.

This effort will give about 200,000 days of work to unemployed Gazans.

At the same time, the UN, various organisations and local authorities are working on a more comprehensive assessment of the damage and the needs of the health services, education, farming, infrastructure and environment.

The UNDP, which leads the UN’s initial reconstruction work, termed ‘early recovery’, will co-ordinate the needs assessment work, which will form part of the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan that will be published by the Palestinian Authority at a donor conference in Cairo on 2nd March.

“The assessment will form the basis for Gaza’s restitution, reconstruction and long-term development,” added Toyberg-Frandzen. He said that most of the data has been collected and is now being analysed jointly with the Palestinian Authority.

It is necessary to bring in the necessary supplies such as building materials, pipes, electrical cables and transformers if the UN is to be able to help in the very comprehensive reconstruction of Gaza.

Israel’s restrictions on the movement of both people and supplies must therefore stop, the UNDP said.