Bo Schack, Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, said Israel refuses to approve the reconstruction of some Gaza houses, which were destroyed during the 2014 offensive.
Schack stated that in May, UNRWA handed names of hundreds of owners of houses destroyed in Gaza, to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah to be approved. He noted, “UNRWA is making big efforts in this regard with the Israeli authorities.”
He warned against the ongoing situation in Gaza and the lack of opportunities and jobs in addition to the continuing siege, “at a time everyone is calling for calmness and peace and no one wants war and violence.”
Still displaced by 2014, the reconstruction effort because of the Israeli siege and soon will come the cold and rain..#Gaza#EndGazaSiege pic.twitter.com/OYv8Suc7P7
— Pal_st (@Stefaniafodd) October 10, 2016
Schack stressed that Israeli measures against UNRWA and international staff are making the situation worse, by restricting the movement of staff, which affects the Palestinian private sector and hinders development.
These measures, according to him, make it difficult to achieve a breakthrough due to the siege on Gaza, adding that the area is deprived of basic needs such as electricity, in addition to the issue of polluted and contaminated water.
He called for lifting the siege on Gaza and providing it with electricity and water to avoid a worse situation, as expected by the UN Gaza 2020 report.
(PC, SAMA)
