2023-07-07 03:26:11
RAMALLAH: Palestinians on Thursday began estimating the cost of the damage inflicted by the Israeli offensive on the Jenin refugee camp and its infrastructure.
Israel’s most intense military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades has left a trail of devastated streets and burnt-out cars, and sparked fury across the Arab world.
Palestinian residents faced scenes of widespread destruction as they left their homes and returned from nearby shelters.
The Israeli offensive destroyed the infrastructure of the Jenin camp, killing 12 civilians and wounding 100.
Public Works and Housing Minister Mohammed Ziyara said a timetable would be set for the reconstruction process.
Infrastructure such as roads need a short period to repair, up to a maximum of three months, he added.
The buildings require a longer period and could last around nine months, the minister said.
The extent of the damage in the city of Jenin and its camp includes four completely destroyed buildings, and the cost of reconstruction amounts to 1.5 million dollars (1 dollar = 0.91 euro), revealed Ziyara.
The number of buildings damaged on a medium or large scale but not in a state of collapse amounts to 25, and the cost of reconstruction is $2 million.
The number of partially damaged residential units reached 250 units, and the cost of reconstruction amounted to $2.5 million.
The number of damaged commercial and service buildings is 150 and the cost of reconstruction is $5 million.
Ziyara confirmed that specialized committees assessed the damage and submitted reports to the Prime Minister to provide an overview.
The work was divided into several phases, he said.
Local Government Minister Majdi al-Saleh said the extent of the initial damage in the Jenin camp was estimated at millions of shekels (1 new Israeli shekel = 0.24 euros).
Shami al-Shami, a senior leader of the Fatah movement in Jenin, said UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan had asked his country’s authorities to meet all the camp’s needs. Jenin.
He said the UAE had pledged $15 million to help rebuild the Jenin refugee camp.
The money will be donated to Unrwa, the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, to rebuild damaged homes and businesses and for agency services.
The president asked for an assessment of the extent of the damage in the camp and the costs of its rehabilitation, Al-Shami added.
Prime Minister Mohammad Chtayyeh has asked Palestinian Authority ministries and institutions to provide the necessary budgets for aid and reconstruction of the Jenin camp, said Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman for the Palestinian government.
The reconstruction efforts have been planned despite the complex financial crisis facing the government, Melhem told Arab News.
Rami al-Junaidi, head of the Hebron Municipal Workers’ Union, said the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli aggression on Jenin was enormous.
“Roads were completely flattened and some buildings were on the verge of collapse, rubble filled the streets and impeded traffic,” he said.
“Jenin is not alone”
Palestinian economist Samir Hulileh said another kind of infrastructure needed to be built in the Jenin camp.
“Shelters where citizens could take refuge to escape Israeli shelling should be included so that we do not see the scene of their forced displacement outside the camp, as with every Israeli military invasion of the camp,” he said. he underlined to Arab News.
Hulileh spoke of the financial burden and cost of rebuilding Jenin camp at a time when Unrwa and the Palestinian Authority “are crippled by very difficult financial conditions”.
Nasr Abdel Karim, professor of economics at the Arab American University, told Arab News that the Jenin camp suffered direct and indirect economic damage, as Jenin’s economy was negatively affected by the Israeli military operation.
Popular campaigns have been launched in the cities of the West Bank to bring aid and support to the population of Jenin and its camp.
Hanadi al-Barghouti, the Ramallah campaign coordinator, highlighted efforts to support “our people in Jenin camp.”
He reported that the campaign had been very well received.
On the first day of the attack, two trucks arrived at Jenin camp and all parcels were distributed to affected families.
On Wednesday, another truck loaded with basic necessities including food and supplies, clothing, blankets, medicine and cash was donated.
Nablus campaign coordinator Bakr Abd al-Haq said it is a response to scenes of displacement, attacks on families and calls for help coming from the heart of the camp.
He said 57 trucks, buses and vehicles had delivered goods. Three buses were loaded with medical supplies and others with food, mineral water and children’s supplies.
“The campaign reflects the cohesion and unity on the ground between Jenin and Nablus,” assured the coordinator.
“Two years ago, during all the incursions and attacks, Jenin was one of the first cities to support Nablus. Today it is Nablus’ turn to return some of the gratitude and deliver a message to the occupation,” he said.
“Jenin is not alone. Nablus is present with the help, at its side,” he said.
The White House meanwhile urged its ally Israel to rebuild civilian infrastructure in Jenin.
This text is the translation of an article published on Arabnews.com
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