via Gaza Rebuild Effort Could Take 100 Years: Oxfam | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community.

Friday, February 27, 2015 by Common Dreams

‘Only an end to the blockade of Gaza will ensure that people can rebuild their lives.’ —Catherine Essoyan, Oxfam

by Andrea Germanos, staff writer

People walk through the heavily-bombed Shujaiya area in eastern Gaza in July 2014 during a pause in attacks.  (Photo:  Iyad al Baba/Oxfam via flickr/cc)

Despair and destruction continue to envelop the blockaded Gaza strip, where the rebuilding of vital structures could take up to a century, Oxfam International has warned.

The organization’s statement comes six months after a ceasefire agreement ended Israel’s 50-day assault on Gaza, which left over 2,100 Palestinians dead, decimated thousands of structures, and weakened already damaged infrastructure systems.

Oxfam is one of 30 international aid agencies that operate in Gaza, including the Norwegian Refugee…