ABU DHABI // As Israel's Gaza offensive approaches its third week, the UAE is taking a leading role not only in relief efforts, but also in preparing for "the day after", a senior UN official has said. Peter Ford, representative of the commissioner general of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the organisation responsible for Palestinian refugees, said ending Israel's blockade was essential to the territory's long-term recovery. Mr Ford was in the capital for Monday's emergency donor conference, during which the UAE called for an immediate halt of attacks on Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to reach the besieged territory. The focus on aid for Gaza has been on emergency relief. However, the UAE is also looking to the future. "For the first time in a public setting, discussions also focused on the issue of recovery," Mr Ford said. "It is brave and historic that the UAE also put on the agenda Gaza's recovery as well. Talking just about relief methods suits Israel, as they want to portray the issue as just emergency relief and rockets." The most crucial issue, he said, was ending the Israeli-imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since Hamas took control of the territory in June 2007. Since then, Israel has severely restricted the flow of goods into the coastal strip. Crossings have remained mostly closed, preventing essential items including food and fuel from reaching Gazans. Even before the current attacks, the territory had electricity only a few hours a day. Gaza has been divided into two parts by Israeli ground troops and UNRWA has not yet been able assess the full extent of the damage caused by the violence. But the agency estimates that more than 20,000 homes have been damaged, in addition to schools and clinics. Emergency supplies such as food, medicine, blankets and hygiene kits are needed urgently, Mr Ford said. Gaza, which is about twice the size of Manhattan Island, is one of the most densely populated places in the world with 1.5 million people, 70 per cent of whom are registered as refugees. As the Israeli assaults continue and troops surround population centres, about 28,000 Palestinians have sought shelter in UNRWA refuges, Mr Ford said. "It is hard to find words strong enough to describe what has happened in Gaza, but seeing the suffering it is an affront to humanity and it behoves us all as the international community to push as hard as possible to end the fighting, bring about a ceasefire and lift the blockade." Mr Ford, a career diplomat who is fluent in Arabic, was appointed a special representative of Karen Abuzayd, UNRWA's commissioner general, in 2006. He previously was the British ambassador to Syria and Bahrain. Several donor countries and relief organisations joined Monday's conference, which was convened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Deputy prime minister, president of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and chairman of the Foreign Aid Co-ordination Office. "What is happening now in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy and we should work to stop it," Sheikh Hamdan said, according to the state news agency, WAM. Organisations including the RCA, the private sector and individuals have been galvanised by the humanitarian crisis. A total of Dh600 million (US$164m) has so far been raised, according to Sheikh Hamdan, and the UAE has pledged to rebuild 1,300 houses in Gaza, along with mosques, schools and hospitals. A nationwide telethon last week raised more than Dh320m to be distributed to humanitarian agencies such as UNRWA. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, announced that today and tomorrow were to be observed as days of solidarity with the children of Gaza. zconstantine@thenational.ae * Additional reporting by Rasha Elass
UAE to play 'major role' in Gaza's recovery
As Israel's Gaza offensive approaches its third week, the UAE is taking a leading role in relief efforts and preparing for "the day after".
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