The EU unveils a $1bn fund to help restore the war in Gaza | Gaza News

The $1bn plan falls short of the $71bn it says is needed for Gaza’s recovery over the next 10 years.

The European Commission has announced a multi-billion dollar aid and reconstruction fund aimed at helping the recovery of Gaza after more than two years of devastating war.

The “Team Gaza Initiative” was launched on Monday at a meeting of donors in Brussels. The plan will support projects such as rehabilitating water and sanitation infrastructure, removing waste and rebuilding health infrastructure, the EU Commission said.

However, the size of this fund falls short of the billions estimated to be needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory amid Israel’s civil war, which continues to kill Palestinians and create dire humanitarian conditions.

Spain, France, Denmark, UK, Germany, Norway, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank are participating in the initiative, together with the ⁠Commission, the statement said. Australia and Canada are also expected to join.

“We will present an initial package today of around 900 million euros or one billion dollars,” Dubravka Suica, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, said before the meeting of donors. “Our goal is clear: to help build hope, resilience and a better future for the Palestinian people.”

The funds are intended to help people access water and sanitation, remove and dispose of garbage and waste, and restore health, energy, agriculture and food.

There is no limit to how much each partner can contribute. Suica said aid providers “want to start with the so-called early recovery, and it is very important to show that we are willing to do that.”

“Now we need the conditions on the ground that will allow aid to reach the people of Gaza,” he added.

When Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-planted “ceasefire” last October, Israel said broke continuously.

The intensity of the fight has decreased, but at least 1,100 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,500 injured since the “ceasefire” began. In total, the conflict has killed at least 73,000 Palestinians.

The EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management described the situation in Gaza as “unbearable”. Hadja Lahbib called for opportunities for people to join the movement and to participate in politics from the Israeli authorities.

“Nine months after the so-called end of the war, shelling continues, diseases are spreading, people are dying,” Lahbib told reporters before announcing the billion-dollar fund.

The European Union and the United Nations he said in April that more than $71bn will be needed over the next 10 years to rebuild Gaza.

The Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report found that $26.3bn will be needed in the first 18 months to restore essential services, rebuild essential infrastructure and support Gaza’s economic recovery.