Jerusalem, 5th February 2003. In their
attempt to respond to the pressing needs of the unemployed in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt), the Government of Japan through the United
Nations Development Programme / Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian
People (UNDP/PAPP) allocated approximately $US 1.7 million for emergency
employment generation programmes in the Gaza Strip.
"At this difficult time, this emergency
grant seeks to create job opportunities in the Gaza strip where unemployment
rates are increasing drastically," stated Mr. Takeshi Okubo, Head
of the Representative Office of Japan to the Palestinian Authority.
The Japan grant will support several construction and infrastructure development projects in the cities of Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis and Beit Hanoun, where $US800,000 are allocated to Gaza city and $US300,000 for each of the other above mentioned cities. Part of the project will focus on the repair and enhancement of water supply networks, construction of roads and sidewalks, rehabilitation of buildings and the Market area in Al-shuja'ieh in Gaza city. As for the areas of Rafah, Khan Younis and Beit Hanoun, the focus will be given to the rehabilitation and restoration of the cities' infrastructure, buildings and houses.
To date, Japan's financial assistance during the past years to the Palestinian people, through UNDP/PAPP, has exceeded $US200 million. Japan's continuous support to the development process in the oPt and remote areas in particular, targeted a number of sectors including health, (building hospitals, clinics etc.), water and environment, infrastructure development, and education (building schools and playgrounds).
For more information, please contact
Dania Darwish by tel. at 972-2-6268290 or by email at:
dania.darwish@undp.org or visit our website at www.papp.undp.org.