infopal
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/3850/1173160
Translation of voice-over and interviews:
Showing an abandoned construction site
Reporter Shlomi Eldar:
This is a scene that epitomizes Gaza ‘s economic demise – maybe the most significant one. Since Israel imposed a total closure on Gaza , it doesn’t allow the import of any raw materials. Consequently, the extensive cement and construction industries came to an abrupt halt. All the workers were laid off.
Showing the abandoned construction site of the new wing at Shifa’ hospital
Ing.Mustafa Ibrahim, in charge of the Shifa hospital consteuction project
As you can see here – the iron bars have already been ‘eaten’ by corrosion – the pipes have gone too, rotten, and all of them have to be replaced. The sun destroyed the concrete as well.
Reporter:
This is the Shifa hospital’s new wing under construction, a 6 million dollar projected started last year – Showing the unfinished building.
Ing Mustafa:
Before the crossings were closed there was work for locksmiths, electricians, engineers and workers. There was work for all – unfortunately now everything has stopped.
Reporter:
This is Ata Abu Jilda. In the past he was storing thousands of tons of cement, received from the [Israeli] Nesher company, in his warehouse distributing it later to other construction sites in the Gaza strip.
Showing Abu Jilda walking around the empty warehouse
Abu Jilda:
I have the storage capacity of 3,500 tons of cement, but now because the crossings are closed, everything is at a stand still and all the workers are unemployed.
Reporter:
As it became well known – the consumption sector in the Gaza strip has collapsed long ago. The only remaining industry that was still functioned was the construction sector, employing tens of thousands of workers. Many of these workers specialized in the past in Israel. First they lost their jobs there and now a second blow was dealt to them, when the local employment collapsed as well.
Gazan worker
I am unemployed – I don’t have work at all because [lack] of the cement.
Abu Jilda:
When we have no work they go unemployed too – and we’re not talking about 30 people but about 3,000 who depend on these crossings – even 30,000 workers – all over. The construction industry alone guaranteed the livelihoods of about 100,000 people.
Reporter
The biggest losses, however, were inflicted upon the tiles and building blocks factories. The machinery was damaged by stopping the manufacturing process and cannot be rehabilitated. The losses could count for as much as millions of dollars.
No need for further elaboration as to the impact and meaning of total unemployment in Gaza
Best
Judith Harel
UN OCHA
Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Information and Advocacy Unit
Tel:02-582-9962 / 5853
Mobile: 0546-600528
Web-site: www.ochaopt.org