Gaza: 10 thousand workers join the ranks of unemployed

October 14, 2013 by occupiedpalestine 0 Comments

[ PIC 14/10/2013 – 10:11 AM ]
Follow @palinfoen Follow @palinfoar

GAZA, (PIC)– The Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip declared that 10 thousand workers join the ranks of unemployed after preventing the entry of construction materials through the underground tunnels along the Egyptian border.

The Director of Public Relations Nabil al-Mabhouh said that 10 thousand workers in the construction sector and 80% of fishermen have become unemployed, in addition to 80% reduction in transportation sector due to the fuel crisis.

He pointed out that the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and the demolition of tunnels affected negatively all sectors and increased unemployment rates in the strip.

Al-Mabhouh stressed the need to break the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, to establish a free trade zone with Egypt, and to facilitate trade movement.

For his part, Nabil Abu Meilq, chairman of the Palestinian Contractors Union, considered the Israeli decision to stop the entry of construction materials into the Gaza Strip as an “economic disaster”, rejecting the Israeli pretensions for it.

The Israeli occupation has allowed on 22 September the entry of the construction materials into the Gaza Strip after seven years of being banned, he said, noting that only 70 truckloads of construction materials were allowed in.

The Gaza Strip suffers difficult conditions especially after the Egyptian measures to tighten the siege by demolishing the tunnels along the Egyptian border.

This is an economic disaster that tightens the siege, he said commenting on the Israeli decision.

The lack of stability in the region significantly harms the private sector; suppliers, businessmen, importers, and farmers, he added.