AsiaNews: The Israeli embargo materials has brought to a halt almost all construction projects in Gaza funded by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to repair or rebuild homes destroyed during Israel’s ‘Cast Lead’ and ‘Pillar of defence’ operations, respectively in December 2008-January 2009 and November 2012, this according to UNRWA chief Filippo Grandi. Since March, the Israeli government has not cleared any of the agency’s construction projects.
The agency’s inability to import construction materials has halted 19 of 20 ongoing projects in Gaza. This has made it hard for normal economic activities to restart, resulting in higher prices and chronic power shortages. More importantly, the embargo has hit the construction industry, the only sector that provided jobs to the Strip where 90 per cent of residents survive on humanitarian aid. Read more here.
