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14
WORLD
$5.4bn pledged
to rebuild Gaza
Gulf Daily News Monday, 13th October 2014
CAIRO: International donors
pledged $5.4 billion at a conference in Cairo to rebuild the
battered Gaza Strip and urged
Israel and Palestine to renew
peace efforts.
The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge
Brende, exceeded the $4bn the Palestinian Authority had asked for.
Qatar led the way with a promise
of $1bn in aid to the coastal enclave,
devastated by its 50-day summer n Palestinians walk amid destroyed buildings in Al
Tufah, east of Gaza. The war razed an estimated
conflict with Israel.
18,000 homes and more than 100 schools
The UAE and Kuwait pledged
$200 million each. The US pledged
$212m and European Union agreement to establish a Palmember states 450m euros, estinian state alongside Israel
but there was clear concern at collapsed in acrimony in April
financing the reconstruction of after a difficult nine-month proGaza yet again without a peace cess, and there is little prospect
deal in sight.
of fresh talks any time soon.
The crowded coastal enclave,
Israel and Hamas fighters
ruled by Hamas since 2007, have yet to even translate their
remained a “tinderbox,” UN open-ended August ceasefire
chief Ban Ki-moon warned, into a long-term truce.
announcing plans to visit Gaza
In his meeting with Abbas,
tomorrow.
Kerry is expected to try to disUS Secretary of State John suade him from seeking further
Kerry said Gaza was facing an recognition of the Palestinians
“enormous” challenge.
at the UN, a move vehemently
“The people of Gaza do need opposed by Israel.
our help, desperately – not toThis summer’s conflict killed
morrow, not next week, they nearly 2,200 Palestinians,
need it now,” Kerry told the mostly civilians, while attacks
gathering of 30 global envoys.
by Gaza fighters killed 73 on
Kerry urged renewed talks the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.
and said the two sides needed
Homeless
to make “tough choices”. The
It left the densely populatcall was echoed by Arab and
ed enclave in ruins, displacing
European envoys.
There is widespread concern more than a quarter of Gaza’s
that – after three destructive population of 1.7m and leaving
conflicts in the past six years – 100,000 people homeless.
The UN agency for Palestinany help to Gaza will eventualian refugees UNRWA has dely be lost in more violence.
Ban expressed the fears of scribed Gaza’s financial needs
many when he told the con- as “unprecedented”.
The UN already has plans
ference the situation in Gaza
remained potentially explosive. for $2.1bn of the funds, with
“Gaza remains a tinderbox, $1.6bn going to UNRWA and
the people desperately need to the rest to other agencies insee results in their daily lives. cluding children’s organisation
This must be the last time. Unicef and development arm
UNDP.
There is clearly some fatigue.”
One crucial question will be
The Palestinian government
unveiled a 76-page reconstruc- how the aid is delivered, given
tion plan ahead of the confer- Israel’s strict blockade of the
ence, with the lion’s share of territory since 2006.
Israel was not invited to the
assistance to build housing.
“Gaza has suffered three wars conference but Foreign Minisin six years. Entire neighbour- ter Avigdor Lieberman said any
hoods have been destroyed,” effort would need his governPalestinian President Mahmud ment’s consent.
“Gaza cannot be rebuilt
Abbas told the conference.
Kerry said the new aid without the co-operation and
brought the US’ contribution participation of Israel,” Lieberto helping Gaza to more than man said, though he added that
$400m over the last year alone. Israel would be “receptive” to
Kerry was due later to meet plans for “the reconstruction of
Abbas to press for further peace civilian infrastructure in Gaza”.
“It will require some politefforts. “Make no mistake.
What was compelling about a ical courage and some degree
two-state solution a year ago is of realism on the part of national legislatures, but it can be
even more compelling today.”
His dogged pursuit of an done,” he said.
n Kerry greets Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammad
Al Attiyah at Gaza Donor Conference in Cairo