Egypt to host donor conference for war-hit Gaza Strip. JERUSALEM: Envoys from dozens of countries will gather Sunday for a conference that aims to raise billions of dollars to rebuild conflict-battered Gaza, despite fears of renewed violence and “donor fatigue.” The United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency has described the financial needs as “unprecedented” ahead of the Cairo meeting, which follows the Gaza Strip’s third war in six years. But it is unclear how generous the world is willing to be given the intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other priorities in the region such as the fight against radical militants in Syria and Iraq. About 50 countries will be represented in Cairo for talks that will include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry, 30 foreign ministers and various international monetary and humanitarian bodies. The Palestinians have called for more than $4 billion in aid, and the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA for $1.6 billion. Other estimates suggest up to $8 billion will be needed to repair damaged infrastructure and homes, and ensure health care, education and clean drinking water. The bloody 50-day conflict between Israel and Gaza militants left almost 2,200 Palestinians dead along with 73 on the Israeli side. More than a quarter of Gaza’s population of 1.7 million was displaced. Even so, a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned there was considerable donor fatigue. “We have seen infrastructure projects that we have contributed to which have been destroyed,” the diplomat said. Money raised in Cairo will also go toward getting Gaza’s economy back on its feet
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:24:53 +0000
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