Gazans cite housing and rehousing as most important priority in UNDP survey – UNDP press release

Gazans cite housing and rehousing as the most important priority
according to UNDP perceptions survey

Jerusalem, 26 September 2014 – Fifty days of fighting has had a strong economic, social and psychological toll on the lives of Palestinians living in Gaza, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.

The interview-based survey of sample of 700 households displaced across Gaza governorates showed, naturally, that housing and rehousing is the most important priority for the respondents followed by employment and financial assistance.

35% of those surveyed stated that their business or shop was damaged during the latest war with north of Gaza being the highest affected area.

The survey also shows that all basic social services and public utilities, such as running water, solid waste, electricity, sanitation, health and roads were hit hard during the conflict.

The perceptions towards the extent of damage in the respondents’ neighbourhoods indicate that only 4% and 1% of running water services and electricity lines were not damaged respectively, and a mere 14% of telephone lines remained intact. Nevertheless, about 64% of the respondents have high confidence in future reconstruction by various institutions and authorities.

More than half of the respondents also identified psychological support as the main need for children citing signs of stress such as bedwetting (54%), nightmares (81%), aggressive behaviour (78%) and anxiety (97%). Getting children back to school and providing them safe opportunities to live a normal life were key concerns reported by parents as well.

“UNDP commissioned the survey in order to understand the recovery priorities of the Palestinian people living in Gaza,” said Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator. “UNDP is mobilizing its resources to assess the damages and needs that will lay the foundation for reconstruction and development,” he added.

Almost two thirds of the interviewed said that they received assistance during the war. UN agencies are the main assistance providers. According to their perceptions, provision of assistance by NGOs or the government were limited.

The survey, which was conducted during the ceasefire between 14 and 18 August 2014, attempted to gage the perception of the sample on issues related to current living conditions, needs, damages and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the challenge presented by the humanitarian situation, UNDP is enhancing livelihoods through emergency employment, rubble removal, repairing essential infrastructure, restoring solid waste services and providing institutional support towards a unified civil service and institutional harmonization.

It is worth noting that the recent conflict has resulted in the death of more than 2,131 Palestinians including over 1,473 civilians. By the end of August, over 18,000 housing units have been destroyed or severely damaged, leaving approximately 108,000 people homeless.

For full results of the perceptions survey, please visit http://www.ps.undp.org

Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist, Tel. +972-2-6268229 – e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see http://www.ps.undp.org.