The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) inaugurated yesterday the newly constructed al-Qastal rehousing project in Deir El-Balah, in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip.

The project was completed with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank.

The inauguration was hosted by Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, Oliver Owcza, Head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah, and guests from German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and KfW.

Through this project, UNRWA finalized the construction of ten buildings consisting of 121 apartments in al-Qastal area to reallocate 121 Palestine refugee families (around 600 persons) currently living in Deir El-Balah camp as they evacuated their unlivable and dilapidated homes inside the camp.

Deir El-Balah camp is the smallest of the eight Palestine refugee camps in the Gaza Strip with an area of 174,200 square meters, which expanded for over seventy years with limited or no overall urban planning, resulting in deteriorated infrastructure and utilities, poor shelter conditions, and mixed land use as well as affecting social life livelihoods inside the camp.

Once families’ movement is finalized, the space of the houses will be used to establish open green and recreational spaces for children. Two roads in al-Qastal area are being developed to facilitate proper and safe access for the residents of this area.

In addition to the ten buildings of al-Qastal and infrastructure measures in Deir El-Balah, similar camp improvement interventions were implemented with German support in Khan Younis.

UNRWA started planning for this project in 2019, adopting a participatory planning process with the camp community to validate the pre-existing camp improvement plan in Deir El-Balah and jointly agree on camp improvement priorities in Khan Younis.

Following the inauguration of the new residential buildings, the Delegation proceeded to visit one of 15 UNRWA distribution centers in Gaza through which some 1.2 million vulnerable Palestine refugees receive essential basic food support.

Finally, the Delegation visited a site of the Gaza Summer Fun Weeks programme launched by UNRWA to provide psychosocial support and recreational activities for children and youth. 

Oliver Owcza, Head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah, said: “I am honored to witness the handing over of more than 120 apartments, which will contribute to lives in dignity for their 600 future inhabitants. This project is an important example of German support for those most in need. At the same time, we’re fully aware that only a political solution will allow for the direly needed sustainable development.”