JERUSALEM, February 11, 2009 (WAFA)- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said that Gazan families whose homes have been damaged and destroyed during the three-week Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip will receive cash assistance to address their accommodation needs.

Taking into consideration family size and current socio-economic status, UNDP said, cash assistance will be disbursed to 10,000 registered non-refugee families in three categories: $5,000 for fully destroyed homes, $3,000 for homes that sustained severe damages and $1,000 for homes with only minor damages.

An initial field survey, conducted by the UNDP estimates that over 14,000 homes have been totally or partially damaged. As a result, families are currently living in temporary housing arrangements including schools, tents, homes of relatives and incomplete buildings.

The Palestinian National Authority and UNDP signed an agreement last week, which provides a total contribution of $50 million to fund this cash assistance package as part of their ongoing collaboration on the Gaza Early Recovery Support Program. The initial phase of the package will be implemented over a period of three months and will cost $20.3 million. The money which was contributed by donors to the Palestinian National Authority and earmarked for Gaza relief is being channeled to beneficiaries through UNDP. The second and third phases of the package will be implemented upon further assessments of the damages incurred in Gaza.