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ACT Alliance urges countries attending a donor conference for the rebuild of Gaza this weekend to stand in solidarity with the people of the war-torn region by making generous funding pledges.
The international meeting on the reconstruction of Gaza on October 12 in Cairo will be chaired by Egypt and Norway.
Donors at the conference must also offer political support for a change to the status quo in order to help end the cycle of destruction and reconstruction, ACT says.
The Palestinian Authority estimates it will cost $US7.8b to reconstruct bombed areas following conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant movement, Hamas, sustained over 51 days in July and August. The war killed over 2100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 69 Israelis.
ACT members working in Gaza say the destruction meted out on already overburdened infrastructure, residential blocks, business and agricultural land was staggering. Thousands of Palestinians remain homeless with limited access to water, electricity and means of income. Health clinics run by long-standing partners of ACT members were badly damaged.
The ACT response to the conflict was swift and effective. Members offered cash, medical treatment, food aid, shelter and psychosocial support.
However, ACT expresses serious concern for the continued protection and welfare of civilians – the people who paid the heaviest price in the war on Gaza – and says the rebuilding of Gaza is urgent.
“Israel must respect international humanitarian law by protecting civilians,” ACT General Secretary John Nduna said. “It must allow unhindered flow of materials into the Gaza strip and exports out to allow reconstruction to move forward, help the devastated economy develop and alleviate some of the suffering caused to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
“So much still needs to be done. The blockade on Gaza remains in place. A permanent solution to the conflict has to be found so people can rebuild their lives without fear of another conflict.
“More support must continue from international donors and NGOs. Cash assistance, healthcare, psychological support, and advocacy awareness are needed, with the aim of creating a plan for recovery that promotes the resilience of the people of Gaza,” Nduna said.
