The United Nations Development Program says that the Israeli blockade has drastically slowed down all reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, PRESS TV reported.
Little has been done to reconstruct property and infrastructure damaged in the Israeli war on Gaza, and aid efforts have also been largely ineffective, the UNDP wrote in a report issued on Saturday.
A survey conducted by the UN agency said that the continued Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip has been the main cause of the slow pace of reconstruction and aid relief and noted that international aid donors often find themselves severely handicapped.
The UNDP report stated that much of the reconstruction work carried out has been done with material smuggled in through tunnels from neighboring Egypt to evade blockades enforced by Israel and Egypt.
"Many members of the international community, including the United Nations, have refrained, thus far, from utilizing materials identified as coming through the tunnels, subsequently limiting their role in reconstruction," the report added, but noted that Arab and Islamic organizations have been more effective than Western agencies in helping the people of Gaza.
Over 1,400 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed by Israel during the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war and an estimated 6,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged.
Siege hinders reconstruction of Gaza
