Updated 23 February 2010

Following the massive devastation caused by the war of the Israeli Army in January 2009, The World Federation joined the global outcry and initiated the GAZA RELIEF FUND to help with the reconstruction efforts for the displaced victims. The World Federation partnered with the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), for a £46,060 aid for the reconstruction efforts of the moderate housing in Gaza city.

Assistance to 62 refugee families, supporting 413 dependants, in the North Area, Gaza, Middle Area, Khan Yunis and Rafah regions was provided enabling them to finance minor and moderate repairs for their damaged homes. The dispersement of funds was undertaken after a thorough eligibility assessment of the needs of the beneficiaries, by the UNRWA.

Upon completion of the joint programme for Cash Subsidies for Shelter Repair in the Gaza Strip, a comprehensive report was provided by UNRWA on how the funds sent to them by The World Federation were spent. The following is a brief summary of the full report:

 
CASH SUBSIDIES FOR SHELTER REPAIR IN THE GAZA STRIP

Executive Summary
On 27 December 2008, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched an intensive military operation in the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead), with heavy artillery, air bombardments and a subsequent ground force incursion. By the time Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire on 18 January 2009, 1,417 Palestinians had been killed and 5,303 wounded according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates.  There has also been widespread destruction to 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; this assistance has included delivery of food aid and provision of temporary shelter.

UNRWA estimates that nearly 44,000 refugee homes in Gaza were demolished or damaged during Operation Cast Lead. Out of this total, it is estimated that 2,300 refugee homes were totally demolished or irreparably damaged and require reconstruction, and more than 41,500 homes sustained minor to major damages and require repair. 

Thanks to the generous contribution from The World Federation of KSIMC in the amount of $76,000 USD including 11%  Programme Support Costs (PSC), UNRWA in Gaza was able to distribute emergency cash assistance to 62 refugee families (supporting 413 dependants) enabling them to finance minor and moderate repairs for their damaged homes.

Problem statement
The Gaza blockade entered its third year this June. The ongoing ban on the import of construction materials is preventing the reconstruction of 6,400 homes destroyed or seriously damaged during the “Cast Lead” military offensive, as well as dozens of schools and health facilities. During the first five months of 2009, only six truckloads carrying construction materials were allowed entry to Gaza;  the parallel figure during the same period of 2007, before the Hamas takeover of Gaza, was over 39,000 truckloads.

Other construction supplies, when available, cost on average three times as much as they do in the West Bank. As a result, some Gazans have started to use primitive building materials such as mud to rebuild their houses, and pilot schemes for rebuilding houses with these same materials are underway.

The unavailability of construction materials is compounded by liquidity shortage in Gaza, delaying the delivery of cash assistance by some aid organizations to affected families. The aim of this cash assistance is to help families cope until reconstruction or rehabilitation occurs.

UNRWA’s response
UNRWA has rapidly progressed to become a principal agent for the human development of Palestine refugees, providing shelter, infrastructure, education, health, environmental heath, relief, and micro-enterprise programmes, alongside emergency services. In line with this  strategic framework, UNRWA in the Gaza Strip has utilised the grant from The World Federation of KSIMC to provide “Cash Subsidies for Shelter Repair in the Gaza Strip”, financing urgent minor and moderate repairs.

Donor contribution
In response to the Agency's Gaza Flash Appeal The World Federation of KSIMC contributed $76,000 including 11% PSC for the provision of temporary shelter and non-food items to the most needy refugee families. The grant was made available to the Agency on 15 July 2009.

Project Description: 

(a)  Objectives
The specific objective of the project 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, reconstruction and rubble removal along with the provision of basic accommodation and living expenses, rental subsidies and back-to-school cash handouts help ensure that refugee families have safe, dignified and adequate housing.

(b)  Project implementation and activities carried out
Following Operation Cast Lead, UNRWA’s Engineering and Construction Service Division (ECSD), along with the Shelter Unit of the Emergency Programme, conducted detailed shelter assessments to determine eligibility for cash assistance under this donation. To be entitled to emergency assistance under the Agency’s Emergency Shelter repair/reconstruction, affected families must meet a set of criteria.

Disbursing Cash Assistance (Repair Works for Damaged Shelters)
Those beneficiaries found eligible were entitled to cash subsidies determined on the basis of the extent of damage of each home. Families with homes that endured minor/moderate damages were entitled to cash assistance based on an itemized “Bills of Quantities” prepared by the Agency’s Engineering staff for the actual damages incurred and based on the prevailing market prices of the cost of repairs at that time.

Under the direct supervision of the Agency’s Field Engineering Construction Service Division and the Shelter Unit of the Emergency Programme, on 11 March 2009, the Agency in Gaza started disbursing cash assistance to eligible families whose shelters sustained repairable damages as a result of the IDF incursion and aerial shelling on several areas in the Gaza Strip.

Impact on Beneficiaries
By end of April 2009 the contribution from the World Federation of KSIMC (excluding PSC) had been fully distributed to 62 refugee families (living in 62 shelters). In spite of the severe scarcity of required construction materials in the local market, more than two-thirds of the families managed to secure their basic shelters’ needs. Families’ ability to do so depended on the type and degree of the original damages and their ability to secure scarcely available construction materials. Beneficiary details are summarized below:

Thanks to the contribution from the World Federation of KSIMC, UNRWA in Gaza provided 62 refugee families (supporting 413 dependants) with cash assistance to repair minor and moderate damages. Some of those families have managed to complete repairs on their shelters ahead of the coming winter. Other families will be carrying out repairs as soon as the needed construction materials appear on the local market.

Visibility
Donors’ contributions toward UNRWA’s emergency appeals in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including the generous contribution from the World Federation of KSIMC are made known to the beneficiaries, the local authorities and NGOs as well as to the donor community on a continuous basis. This donation is also noted in general periodic reports (quarterly) on the emergency programmes.

Project management
Both the Agency’s Engineering & Constructions Services Department (ECSD) and the Shelter Unit of the Emergency Program were directly involved in implementing the project. To control the process, the Agency issues the cash assistance in instalments. When there are repair works worth $1000 or less only, the family receives its entitlement in one instalment. If the cost of repairs is higher than $1000, the family receives the amount in two instalments to ensure that the cash assistance is used as planned.

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