Jerusalem, December 22, 2005 — The United Nations Development Programme / Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) has been entrusted by the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Quartet, Mr. James Wolfensohn to carryout the task of clearing and recycling the rubble produced by the destruction of settlements in the Gaza strip.

With over 1.2 million tons of rubble to be cleared and recycled, the project will cost US $24.7 million, which will be provided by the Government of Israel, and will take over a year and half to complete. UNDP will move rapidly in clearing the rubble to allow the Palestinians the opportunity to use the land by June, 2006. Once cleared the rubble will be grinded in a designated location south of the Gaza strip—a process that will take a whole year to complete.

Composed mostly of concrete and some metal, the rubble will be recycled into a grind that will be used for the much needed rehabilitation and paving of roads in the Gaza strip.

Affirming the UNDP’s commitment to lend a helping hand, the Officer in Charge of UNDP/PAPP in Jerusalem , Ms. Minna Tyrkko said: “We are very pleased with the trust that all parties have placed in UNDP/PAPP to carryout this task. This project is important because it not only paves the way for Palestinians to be able to use the land as soon as possible for their development plans, but also because it will generate hundreds of jobs for unemployed Palestinian laborers, contributing to the fight against the rising tide of poverty in the Gaza strip.”

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