Ban's convoy crossed through Erez crossing point between Israel and the northern tip of Gaza and is scheduled to stay in the territory for several hours.
The UN chief headed to Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza to check a school run by the UN relief and work agency, which was hit during a 50-day Israeli offensive on Gaza that ended on Aug. 26.
Ban will announce the start of the reconstruction process in the Strip, following attending a Norwegian-sponsored donor conference held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday, which raised 5.4 billion U.S. dollars for Gaza reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Hussein al-Sheikh, the liaison chief in the Palestinian Authority, said in an emailed press statement that " constructions raw-material will be allowed to the Gaza Strip and the process of reconstruction will be launched today."
"Cements, gravel and iron are to be allowed in Gaza through Kerem Shalom in coordination with the UN," he said, adding that " the amounts of cements will be delivered to the private sector in accordance to the agreed upon mechanism."
Xinhua - china.org.cn
14/10/14
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UN Chief Says Damage Caused by Latest Gaza Conflict 'Beyond Description'....
ReplyDeleteDuring his visit to the Gaza Strip, United Nations (UN) chief Ban Ki-moon told reporters that damages to the area were far worse than those caused by the previous Gaza conflict in 2008-2009, The Times of Israel reported Tuesday.
"The destruction which I have seen while coming to here is beyond description. This is a much more serious destruction than what I saw in 2009," the UN chief was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
The UN chief was driven through the ruins of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighborhood on Tuesday and the Jabaliya refugee camp, the areas hit hardest by the latest conflict. Ban Ki-moon also saw the tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the conflict and forced to camp outside of their destroyed homes as he navigated the war-torn area in a convoy of UN vehicles, according to the newspaper.
"I'm asking the leaders of both parties… to resume their talks," Ban Ki-moon was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
"Otherwise it's a matter of time that the violence will continue," he added.
During his visit, Ban Ki-moon also pressed Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume peace talks..................http://en.ria.ru/world/20141014/194075214/UN-Chief-Says-Damage-Caused-by-Latest-Gaza-Conflict-Beyond.html
14/10/14