Gaza: UNRWA makes provisional assessment of damage caused by Israeli bombing
Audio 01:24
Palestinians sit in a makeshift tent amid the rubble of their homes that were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during the Israel-Hamas fighting.
In Gaza on May 23, 2021. REUTERS - MOHAMMED SALEM
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
1,000 homes totally destroyed, six hospitals and eleven health centers damaged.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, takes stock of the damage caused by Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip.
During a press conference in Gaza, UNRWA, expressed its priorities: guaranteeing the population basic services, such as access to water and electricity.
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With our special
correspondent in Gaza
,
Sami Boukhelifa
From the outset, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWA, expressed his concern.
The clashes may have stopped, but the reasons that led to the conflict are still there.
Palestinian civilians live in constant danger.
“
I spoke to a father, the only survivor of his family, his wife and their four children were killed, his sister and his four nephews also lost their lives.
This man cannot understand what happened to him.
In his place, no one could understand.
I myself have four children, I cannot imagine for a single moment experiencing such a tragedy… Sixty children… sixty children were killed during this conflict.
It breaks my heart,
”said Philippe Lazzarini.
300 buildings were bombed by the Israeli army.
A total of 1000 homes were destroyed.
The water and electricity networks in particular were heavily damaged.
“
Humanitarian organizations are doing their best to quickly provide medical aid, food and fuel to Gazans.
This week, we are releasing nearly $ 18 million from the emergency common fund for the Palestinian territories.
And OCHA, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will release an additional $ 4.5 million.
All this in order to quickly restore basic services such as healthcare or access to water,
”says Lynn Hastings, UNRWA coordinator.
Right now Gazans only have 2 to 3 hours of electricity a day.
Twice less than before this last conflict.
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Israel
Gaza
Palestinian territories