Gaza still awaits reconstruction one year after “Operation Cast Lead”, says UNDP

Around three-quarters of the damage inflicted on the Gaza Strip by Israeli armed forces during its “Operation Cast Lead” last year remains unrepaired and unreconstructed, according to a United Nations report.
The ‘One Year After’ report produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Gaza-based Engineering and Management Consulting Center, notes that unrepaired property and infrastructure includes 82.5% of educational facilities, 75% of agricultural land and premises, and 60% of private businesses.
The report estimates that a further US$ 527 mln needs to be spent to repair all the damage caused by Israeli attacks between December 2008 and January 2009. In spite of the remaining destruction and Israel’s refusal to allow the importation of building materials, a large amount of small scale repairs have taken place, effecting one-quarter of the total damage. Repairs have been conducted using recycled rubble and building materials brought in from Egypt via cross border tunnels.
The report estimates the value of repairs carried out to be around $173 mln, some of which has been paid for by compensation and grants. A further $151 mln of assistance has been given to Gaza in the form of employment generation projects, food aid and other projects.