Roundup: Gaza rebuilding might take "100 years" if Israeli blockade persists: Oxfam

Oxfam, the international charity organization, warned Thursday that rebuilding the Gaza Strip following last summer's military offensive waged by Israel might take "100 years," if eight-year old Israeli blockade persist.

On July 8, Israel waged a 50-day large-scale military offensive on the Gaza Strip, which left 2,200 Palestinians dead and injured over 11,000. The military operation also resulted in substantial destruction in housing, infrastructure and the industry and agriculture sectors.

On Oct. 12, international donors met in Cairo and pledged 5.4 billion U.S. dollars for Gaza's reconstruction. However, years of Israeli blockade on the enclave and internal disputes between Palestinian rival groups obstructed this process.

"It could take 100 years to complete essential building of homes, schools and health facilities in Gaza unless the Israeli blockade is lifted," said an Oxfam emailed report, adding "less than 0.25 percent of the truckloads of essential construction materials needed have entered Gaza in the past 3 months."

Oxfam works directly with communities to ensure that poor can have their livelihood improved. The latest figures revealed a drop in the amount of vital construction materials entering Gaza last month.

"Six months after the end of the conflict, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate," said the report, adding that Oxfam "is calling for an urgent end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, now in place for nearly eight years."

Gaza needs more than 800,000 truckloads of construction materials to build homes, schools, health care facilities and other infrastructure following repeated conflicts and years of blockade, according to Oxfam.

"Yet, in January only 579 such trucks entered Gaza," Oxfam clarified. This is even less than the 795 trucks that entered in the previous month.

Around 100,000 Gazans are still living in shelters, temporary accommodations or with extended families after their homes were destroyed. Tens of thousands more families are living in badly damaged homes.

Catherine Essoyan, Oxfam's Regional Director said: "Only an end to the Gaza blockade may ensure that people can rebuild their lives. Families have been living in homes without roofs, walls or windows for the past six months. Many have just six hours of electricity a day and are left without running water."

"It is utterly deplorable that the international community is once again failing the people of Gaza when they need it most," she added.

There has been no progress on concrete talks between Palestinians and the Israelis regarding a long-term solution to the crisis in Gaza. Oxfam called on both sides to proactively seek a peaceful resolution, including an end to the blockade. Growing tensions within the Palestinian unity government are also exacerbating the situation in Gaza.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement emailed to reporters Thursday around 30 international relief organizations called for improvement in the livelihood of Gazans.

"We must not fail in Gaza. We must realize the vision of making Gaza a livable place and a cornerstone of peace and security for all in the region," said the joint statement.

"Six months have passed since a cease-fire on 26 Aug. ended the military conflict in Gaza. As UN agencies and international NGOs operating in Gaza, we are alarmed by the limited progress in rebuilding the lives of those affected and tackling the root causes of the conflict,' said the statement.

"Sporadic rocket fire from Palestinian armed groups has resumed. Overall, the lack of progress has deepened levels of desperation and frustration among the population, more than two thirds of whom are Palestine refugees," said the organizations. Endit