Gaza: Protest in front of UN headquarters

(Baonghean.vn) - On Wednesday, January 28, about 200 Palestinians gathered in front of the United Nations representative office to protest the temporary suspension of subsidies to help repair houses destroyed by bombs during the conflict that took place in the summer of 2014 in the Gaza Strip.

Protesters gather in front of the United Nations mission in Gaza on April 28. Photo: AFP/Mahmud Hams

On Wednesday, protesters gathered outside the gates of the UN headquarters, saying they were still homeless. Some protesters even tried to storm the building before being dispersed by Hamas police. The UN condemned the incident, saying the police had failed in their duty to protect them.

The incident occurred shortly after the United Nations announced the suspension of financial aid to tens of thousands of Palestinians a day ago. It is known that these aids were intended to help people repair or pay rent for houses destroyed during the conflict in Gaza in the summer of 2014. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), during the 50-day conflict in the Gaza Strip, more than 96,000 houses were damaged or completely destroyed by bombs.

UNRWA Director Robert Turner explained that $5.4 billion was pledged by countries to Gaza during the Cairo Conference in October 2014. However, so far, almost none of those countries have fulfilled their commitments. “This is sad and unacceptable,” said Turner. UNRWA said it needs $720 million to meet its current needs, but so far it has received only $135 million.

While aid remains in limbo, some 12,000 Palestinians continue to live in UNRWA schools. The UN agency fears that it will not be able to help refugees return to their homes.

More than 50 days of conflict between Palestine and Israel have claimed the lives of nearly 2,200 Palestinians, most of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 73 people were killed, but most of them were soldiers. The conflict has not only claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people but also destroyed much of the land between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Chu Thanh

According to Le Monde January 28