National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza 2014-2017_FINAL

14The National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza 2014SECTION 1: Setting the Context1.1 Counting the LossesIn August 2014, Gaza marked the end of the sixth Israeli assault since 2006. Although the 51-day bombardment and invasionhas halted, Palestinians in Gaza are still counting their losses: thousands are dead or injured, nearly half a million were displaced,over 110,000 are still homeless, and billions of dollars of damage has been done.All this is against the backdrop of 66 years of displacement and dispossession, 47 years of military occupation, decades of travelrestrictions, and a seven-year blockade, which has crippled the economy and shattered livelihoods. Two of every three people in Gazawere receiving food aid war prior to the recent assault. Poverty rates were up to 39 percent and unemployment had hit 45 percent.Through the latest assault, which began on July 7, 2014, the Israeli military has once again wrought wholescale damage anddestruction to Gaza, surpassing even the aftermath of the December 2008 assault. During the 51-day assault, at least 2,145people killed and over 11,200 were injured. At least 142 Palestinian families lost three or more members, while 1,500 children lostone or both parents. More children have suffered than ever: at least 581 children were killed. Over 3,436 children were injured,leaving many permanently disabled 1 .One in four Palestinians in Gaza was forced to flee, and over 60,000houses were damage or destroyed. Infrastructure and publicutilities were severely damaged, including Gaza’s only powerplant, its water facilities, sanitation, electricity, telecommunicationnetworks, and transportation. Israeli military strikes destroyedgovernment and UN facilities, municipal centers, and publicutilities, impeding the provision of basic services to Gaza’s 1.8million inhabitants. The local economy has almost completelycollapsed, after the destruction of an unprecedented number ofprivate sector assets and damage to agricultural land and fishingfacilities. During the assault, up to 71 percent of the populationbecame food insecure, as prices of basic foodstuff soared by 40to 179 percent. After seven weeks of assault, most Palestiniansin Gaza can no longer meet their most basic needs: earning alivelihood is almost impossible.Immediate relief is already underway, provided by Government ministries and local and international agencies. The UN Officefor the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued two funding appeals for a combined $563 million. The requestedfunds are supporting 47 humanitarian actors in providing immediate relief until December 2014. But humanitarian assistance isjust the first phase in the longer effort to help Palestinians in Gaza recover quickly and build back better.The National Consensus Government has developed this Palestinian National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, incoordination with UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector, to provide a roadmap through the current humanitariancrisis to long-term development. Building on the larger Palestinian National Development Plan, this Plan formulates responsesto diverse and urgent sectoral needs to secure the foundation for a prosperous Gaza. Prior to the publication of this Plan, theGovernment began its Bridging to Recovery Initiative, through which it initiated key priority interventions from the Plan inresponse to critical needs in Gaza.Securing a stable future requires an end to this destruction and reconstruction cycle. The siege must be permanently lifted andnormal movement of people, trade and economic activity must be restored. It is imperative to ensure that the current recoveryand reconstruction leads Gaza onto a sustainable and permanent upward trajectory.1 Data on fatalities and casualties are based on preliminary information (as of September 4, 2014) and may change.