RAMALLAH, December 16, 2014 (WAFA) – The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the West Bank and Gaza Mission announced a $10 million donation to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the removal of rubble in the Gaza Strip. 

The donation comes as part of a pledge made by US Secretary of State John Kerry at the October 2014 Gaza Donors Conference held in Cairo.

The US government, through USAID, has pledged $10 million to assist in the Gaza Emergency Removal and Crushing of Rubble and Debris Management Project, which is being implemented by UNDP.

The government’s investment will result in the removal of 649,177 tons of rubble and waste material from destroyed public and private buildings in areas throughout the Gaza Strip.

These efforts will facilitate work by the Palestinian Water Authority and the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility to assess and repair infrastructure buried beneath the rubble and restore essential water and sanitation services.

The contribution to the rubble removal initiative will generate approximately 116,852 days of employment and bring immediate relief to more than one million Palestinians living in the affected areas in Gaza.

At the October 2014 Gaza Donors Conference in Cairo, Secretary of State John Kerry announced $414 million in US assistance to the Palestinians, which included $212 million to be delivered through USAID. The $10 million for rubble removal is part of this commitment. 

At that conference, Kerry also designated $25 million in financial support for the six hospitals in the East Jerusalem Hospital Network and $20 million for direct humanitarian assistance in Gaza.  The money for the hospitals was transferred in November.

The US government will deliver additional funds to support critically needed relief and early recovery efforts in Gaza as it remains committed to continuing to address the needs of the Palestinian people.

More than 2,160 Palestinians were killed, while more than 10,000 were injured during the military offensive which lasted for 51 days. At least 40,000 homes were damaged, 9,600 structures fully demolished, 7,600 structures partially demolished, and 277 schools were also damaged during the summer Israeli aggression on Gaza.

M.N./M.H.