UNRWA hands 97 houses to Palestinians after being destroyed by Israel
Palestine-Israel, Economics, 9/20/2002

The UN Relief and Work Agency UNRWA has handed over 97 new houses it had built for families in Rafah to the South of Gaza, the Israeli army had destroyed their houses during the Intifada, noting that 529 houses were destroyed or damaged in a way that can not be renovated in Gaza since the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000.

UNRWA said in a press statement circulated following the delivery of the apartments to the Palestinians that it "handed over 97 new houses to the refugee families in Rafah to the south of Gaza whose houses were destroyed by the Israeli forces in Gaza during the current Intifada."

The agency explained that these houses are "the material commitment of UNRWA to re-inhabit the refugees whose houses were destroyed during the Intifada and do not have an alternative house."

UNRWA, on the other hand, said according to statistics that some 529 houses sheltering 5,000 persons were destroyed and can not be renovated after being damaged by the Israeli army in Gaza since the beginning of the Intifada until August 31, 2002. It explained that the "new houses which were handed over in Tel al-Sultan quarters in Rafah were built by donations given from Belgium and the humanitarian aids office of the European committee, the Islamic Bank for development and Norway while the Palestinian authority offered the land where the houses were built."

The statement added that the total cost of the project is estimated at 5.3 million dollars and stressed that the work in the project to re-inhabit the displaced families in Rafah was delayed for a long time because of the restrictions imposed on movement by the Israeli army forces in Gaza. UNRWA said that "Abu Hauli inspection point which controls the road to the south of Gaza was closed for 200 out of 300 work days and water and sewage pipes were prevented from being imported.

UNRWA added that some 340 houses will be built in all parts of Gaza thanks to aid from several donors including the USA and the Arab people's committee in Syria.

Previous Stories:
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  Palestine, new member in Arab Social and Economic Council   (9/14/2002)
  UN figures show economic crisis leading to 'human catastrophe' in West Bank and Gaza   (8/31/2002)
  Israeli exports decrease following the Palestinian Intifada   (8/15/2002)

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