The cost of reconstructing Gaza is taking its toll on the Palestinian Authority's budget.
The Palestinian Authority (P.A.) is likely to face a US$2 billion deficit in 2015, a Palestinian official warned Wednesday.
Although financial contributions from the United States and the European Union have been sinking for two years, according to an anonymous official who spoke to Turkey's Anadolu Agency, Gazan reconstruction costs are also largely to blame for the P.A.'s financial shortfall.
An estimated US$7.8 billion is needed for Gaza to recover from Israel's assault in 2014.
Over 2000 Gazans were killed during the fighting, which left hundreds of homes and businesses in ruins, and public infrastructure decimated.
Palestine's economy minister Mohammad Mustafa has stated donor countries need to boost aid to the P.A.
“Starting from next year, the Palestinian budget will need additional external support worth US$1.3 billion to fulfill its obligations to the citizens,” he stated in October, according to the Middle East Monitor.
In 2012, a funding shortfall left the P.A. unable to pay public worker salaries. Palestinian officials blamed the shortfall on a handful of donors failing to fulfill financial pledges.
On Wednesday, Iraq pledged a new US$28.7 million to the P.A., according to Palestine's official WAFA news agency.
“Iraq has taken this step despite the dire circumstances it has been undergoing, especially those related to the approval of the new Iraqi budget,” WAFA quoted Iraq's Arab League representative Diya Dabbas.
Qatar has also handed the P.A. US$25 million in aid this week.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق