26 October 2009
Gaza City
UNRWA's Director of Operations in Gaza today announced the doubling of the Agency's job creation programme to a total of 14,000 job opportunities a month, with 3,100 jobs specifically in support of the Gazan private sector. The announcement was made by John Ging as he met with representatives of private sector associations and businesses at a local cement factory in northern Gaza.
Expansion of the Agency's job creation programme in support of private sector employment takes place in recognition of the difficulties faced by Gaza's business community. The crippling effects of the tightened blockade, compounded by the devastating consequences of the recent conflict have left the Gazan private sector, once a pillar of the local economy, in a state of collapse. An estimated total of 120,000 jobs have been lost in the private sector as 3,750 establishments have been forced to close down.
"Prior to the blockade, more than half of all employment in Gaza was private sector driven," said Mr Ging. "The situation now is that there are very few businesses left operational and UNRWA would like to support some of these through the job creation programme. The private sector has been singled out as it constitutes the backbone of any functioning economy, offering opportunities both to businesses and to ordinary people who wish to provide for themselves and their families."
A new and central feature of the job creation programme will be that applicants from among those who have been identified as abject poor will get priority access to jobs. "The hard-working, innovative people of Gaza are paying the price of the continued blockade. Unprecedented unemployment and poverty levels mean something must be done to assist the poorest of the poor, who remain a priority for UNRWA. Job creation is one of several initiatives by the Agency to help those who are most in need," Ging noted.
For more information please contact:
Adnan Abu Hasna
UNRWA Public Information Office
Phone: 0599 428061
Email: a.abu-hasna@unrwa.org
Jamal Hamad
UNRWA Public Information Office
Phone: 0599 416877
Email: j.hamad@unrwa.org
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