U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell today toured a U. N. warehouse of food parcels for Gaza with representatives of the UN and CHF International, the largest distributor of aid to Gaza's non-refugees.
Speaking to reporters following the tour, Mitchell praised the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and CHF International for their success in aiding tens of thousands of Gaza's refugee and non-refugee populations during the recent crisis.
Lana Abu-Hijleh, CHF's country director, told Mitchell the Maryland-based international aid organization was pleased to be partnered with the UN's World Food Program and excited to be the WFP's largest distributor of food aid to Gaza's non-refugees.
Abu-Hijleh said she looked forward to continuing work with WFP and to implementing several other emergency aid programs, including a work-for-cash program designed to employ 855 Gazans, and a water and sanitation program that will bring clean drinking water to 25,000 residents of Gaza City.
CHF will also continue large shipments of food parcels as well as non-food items such as blankets and warm clothing. Abu-Hijleh said she hoped for a speedier entry of aid into Gaza, which has seen a slower recovery than humanitarian aid workers would like due to security checks that limit the number of trucks entering Gaza each day to 200 or less including commercial vehicles.
Meanwhile, CHF, in coordination with other UN and humanitarian agencies, has determined that 22.6 percent of non-refugee housing was damaged or destroyed during the recent conflict, including 2.6 percent of homes that were completely destroyed.
These figures are based on surveys taken in 48 of 61 localities in Gaza that are not inhabited by refugees.
CHF has already distributed plastic sheeting to hospitals, local NGOs, universities, and private residences. CHF plans to distribute more plastic sheeting and emergency shelter kits in the coming days.
Palestinian businessmen, meanwhile, have told CHF and other agencies that 219 factories were destroyed or severely damaged during the fighting. The factories were only operating at 3 percent of capacity during the 18-month blockade that preceded the recent crisis, they said.
Meanwhile, the UN and other aid agencies estimate that repairing damaged water and wastewater networks will cost approximately $6 million, including $1.8 million to repair the water network. And $830,000 to repair the waste water network.
For more information, contact:
Lana Abu-Hijleh in Jerusalem: country director: cell 059-941-3101 or 052-264-8164; labuhijleh@chf-pal.org
Mohammad Sabe in Gaza: program manager: cell 059-917-1224; msabe@chf-pal.org