UN set to help Gaza rebuilding: Ban visits today ISLAMABAD - The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is all set to visit several war-destroyed sites in Gaza to help the enclave look ahead and build a better future and advance reconstruction efforts, says a UN web annoucement on Monday. Futurists see this well-timed travel to Palestine by the UN boss as reflecting global viewchange vis-a-vis solution of Palestine issue. The Arab Peace Plan of 2002 suggests a two-state settlement formula. “I believe it is important to be (physically) on the ground. That is why I am announcing today that I will visit Gaza on Tuesday to listen directly to the people of Gaza, survey the situation for myself,” Mr. Ban said as he briefed journalists in Cairo following an international conference on Gaza reconstruction. The 2002 Palestine solution formula is called by its authors name: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. All Arab states support this Palestine settlement plan. Mr. Ban said that while he felt confident that today the international community clearly recognized the massive needs in Gaza, “this must be the last Gaza reconstruction conference”. “Enough is enough,” Mr. Ban stressed, reiterating that the cycle of building and destroying must end. Donors may be fatigued – but the people of Gaza are bruised and bloody. Scheduled to arrive in Gaza on Tuesday, according to the United Nations Relief Agency (UNRWA), the UN Chief will visit three sites including the UNRWA Compound, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Fishing Project and the Jabalia school. During the recent 51-day conflict, dozens of schools, hospitals and clinics were destroyed or damaged in Gaza. UN facilities sheltering women and children were hit, resulting in many casualties. Eleven staff members of the UN were killed in the course of the conflict. “Given that 70 percent of Gazans are refugees, we have a huge responsibility to rebuild homes and improve the situation in the refugee camps,” said UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness speaking with UN radio from Jerusalem this afternoon. There are currently over 50,000 people in UNRWA shelters, one of which Mr. Ban is scheduled to visit when he arrives in the area on Tuesday. Mr. Gunness said. In addition to its emergency and reconstruction efforts, UNRWA is also running its regular operations including having opened schools for nearly a quarter of a million children. End According to UNRWA, Gaza has 3,500 fishermen who support 35,000 people, typically from among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable of Palestinians. UNDP is currently constructing 24 brick huts for 168 fishermen in Gaza Port to enable them to secure their fishing equipment. The brick huts allow fishermen to store their tools and also reduce their maintenance costs. The Secretary-General has been travelling in North Africa and the Middle East this week, having already visited Tunisia and Libya along with todays stop in Egypt. The Secretary-General also reiterated his concern over the situation in and around the Syrian city of Kobane. The continued attacks by ISIL or Daesh were putting thousands of lives are at stake. End
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 11:38:43 +0000
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