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Pace of reconstruction in Gaza too slow, UN humanitarian official says

Xinhua, July 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Robert Piper, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, on Tuesday expressed continuing concern over the humanitarian situation and the slow pace of reconstruction in Gaza one year after the escalation of hostilities there, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing. "Aid agencies have supported close to 90,000 families in Gaza with temporary shelter, food assistance has been provided to over 1.4 million Palestinians and some 85,000 children have received psychosocial support," the spokesman said.

"But despite these efforts, today some 100,000 people remain internally displaced; 120,000 people are still waiting to be reconnected to the city water supply," Dujarric noted. "The humanitarian appeal for Gaza remains 70 percent under-funded."

The hostilities which lasted for 51 days in July and August last year left 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in direct and indirect damages and 1.7 billion dollars in economic losses to Gaza. More than 1,400 civilians were killed and many thousands injured.

On May 4, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Piper, who is an Australian national, as his new deputy special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. With the new appointment, Piper also serves as the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory in his new role. Endite