Updated 30 June 2009

Since the onset of the Gaza crisis last December 2008, donors from our communities around the world came together to raise funds to help the distraught Palestinian people. The World Federation condemned the atrocities and humanitarian disasters committed against the innocent civilians of Gaza and opened a relief appeal, announcing that it would be working in partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide aid and relief to the victims of the conflict. UNRWA has been actively providing humanitarian relief in Palestine for about 60 years.

From the time when this recent conflict started, UNRWA has been monitoring the situation in Gaza to determine what kind of aid is needed to help the people reclaim their lives. After a thorough assessment The World Federation and UNRWA have agreed to partner in the much needed Emergency Shelter Repair and Reconstruction Programme.  Due to the lack of construction materials in Gaza, the shelter repair initiative is currently focused on "Minor -Moderate damages" providing refugee families with a cash grant to implement the necessary repairs on the basis of the Agency’s technical assessment and cost estimate. In June 2009, The World Federation then released USD $76,000 in aid to UNRWA towards this programme to provide for shelter repairs for 21 families in Gaza.

BACKGROUND
On 27 December 2008, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched an intensive military operation in the Gaza Strip, with heavy artillery and air bombardments and a subsequent ground force incursion. By the time Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire on 18 January 2009, 1,434 Palestinians had been killed and 5,015 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates. Amongst the casualties are large numbers of civilians, including an estimated 288 children killed and 1,606 injured. Many will require lifelong assistance and care. There has also been widespread destruction of homes and public and commercial infrastructure across Gaza. IDF Operation Cast Lead has wrought unprecedented devastation and hardship on an already impoverished population, compounding the effects of an 18 month blockade and tight regime of closures and restrictions on movement.

Since the start of the IDF operation, UNRWA has continued to assist and protect Palestine refugees, who represent over 1,000,000 of the 1,400,000 inhabitants of Gaza, including through delivery of food aid and provision of temporary shelter. Assistance has also been extended to needy non-refugees, in close coordination with other aid partners. With a ceasefire now in place, UNRWA has been urgently seeking funds to meet the costs of restoring full service provision in Gaza as quickly as possible, and to address the immediate post conflict needs of affected families.

UNRWA is currently developing initiatives to address specific early recovery and repair/reconstruction needs, which include: the disbursement of cash subsidies to affected families to allow them to secure basic accommodation and living expenses, the reconstruction of refugee shelters destroyed during Operation Cast Lead and previous conflicts, and the rehabilitation of refugee homes that are unfit for habitation.

UNRWA estimates that nearly 20,000 refugee homes in Gaza were partially or completely destroyed during this conflict. Out of this total, it is estimated that 2,745 refugee homes were demolished or irreparably damaged and require reconstruction, and more than 17,000 homes sustained minor to major damages and require repair.  Additionally, there are further 4,300 homes that were either destroyed or damaged during previous conflicts for which funding has not yet been received.

PROJECT RATIONALE

Aim
The aim of UNRWA’s Emergency Shelter Repair and Reconstruction Programme is to alleviate the hardship Palestine refugee families have been forced to endure following the destruction or damage to their homes during Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Shelter repair and reconstruction, along with the provision of basic accommodation and living expenses, rental subsidies and non-food items help ensure that refugee families have safe, dignified and adequate housing.

Objectives
The specific objective of this project proposal is to repair damaged shelters (that were affected during the military operation in the Gaza strip); housing 21 refugee families. These families will receive cash assistance to carryout the repair work themselves.

Beneficiaries
The subject project will directly benefit 21 eligible refugee families (approximately 137 persons) whose homes were damaged. The project is also expected to generate circa 1,300 man-days of employment in the construction sector, facility maintenance and related trades at a time when unemployment in the Gaza Strip is more than 42%.

Implementation:
UNRWA estimates an average repair cost of $4,000 per shelter, covering minor, moderate and serious damages. Payments will be authorized on the basis of assessments by engineers and will be in the form of cash grants or contracts with local construction companies, depending on the extent of damage. For repairs under $5,000, UNRWA will typically provide cash grants, whereas for more serious damages (usually above $5,000), repair works may be implemented through third party contractors.

The World Federation would like to thank all those who contributed to its Gaza Crisis 2009 Appeal. Together we continue to make a difference in the lives of others. May Allah (swt) accept our humble efforts.

For more information, please email relief@world-federation.org