The UN Relief and Works Agency has been forced to halt its projects for lack of construction materials. Since November, the Strip has been without power. Raw sewage is overflowing in the streets, increasing the risk of epidemics. For Joudeh Murqos, a Christian former tourism minister, "Finding a solution to the conflict with Israel is no longer just a political problem; it is in fact a human rights issue."

Gaza (AsiaNews) - The Israeli embargo materials has brought to a halt almost all construction projects in Gaza funded by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to repair or rebuild homes destroyed during Israel's 'Cast Lead' and 'Pillar of defence' operations, respectively in December 2008-January 2009 and November 2012, this according to UNRWA chief Filippo Grandi. Since March, the Israeli government has not cleared any of the agency's construction projects.

The agency's inability to import construction materials has halted 19 of 20 ongoing projects in Gaza. This has made it hard for normal economic activities to restart, resulting in higher prices and chronic power shortages. More importantly, the embargo has hit the construction industry, the only sector that provided jobs to the Strip where 90 per cent of residents survive on humanitarian aid.

"Gaza is quickly becoming uninhabitable, and further conflict is bound, as before, to affect civilians in Gaza and southern Israel, unless its causes are addressed," Grandi warned.

Similarly, Joudeh Murqos, a former Palestinian tourism minister and once the only Christian member in the Hamas-led government, told AsiaNews that the situation in Gaza is "now at a point of no return. Finding a solution to the conflict with Israel is no longer just a political problem; it is in fact a human rights issue. "

For Murqos, who resigned in 2006, both Hamas and Israel must abandon their positions and begin negotiating. Sadly, foreign pressures on either side is blocking the peace process and aggravating the tensions.

"A solution is still far away," he explained. "The inability of many Palestinian leaders to compromise and Israel's biases make everything harder, but it is time for Palestinians to begin a dialogue. Delaying the problem is no longer possible."

Since October, Gaza has been experienced a power crunch and a humanitarian crisis, due largely to the embargo Israel imposed after Hamas took over.

Until a few months ago, tunnel smuggling across the Egyptian near Rafah brought in most of the fuel used in generating power in the Strip. However, Egypt's decision to close the tunnels to stop weapons from reaching Hamas has also affected construction imports.

In view of the situation, the city's administration cut power supply to six hours a day in early November. For the past few weeks, residents have had to rely on candles. Street lights have almost all been turned off.

Following the power cuts, a pumping station was shut down on 14 November, causing sewage to overflow on the eastern side of Gaza City, threatening residents' health. In some areas, the sewage is a metre-thick.

In the meantime, unconcerned by Gazans' problems, Hamas continues to spend public money on buying weapons, paying its officials and organising military parades, the latest one on 14 November marking the second war with Israel. (S.C.)

• palestine
• gaza
• strip
• israel
• power
• cuts
• shortages
• unrwa
• projects