Qatar to donate $1,000 to each Palestinian family whose home was destroyed in Gaza

Gaza City Mayor Nizar Hijazi praises Qatar, saying it was one of the first countries to offer help during the war.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
A PALESTINIAN man walks past the remains of a Khan Yunis mosque in the southern Gaza Strip early this week, which witnesses said was destroyed in an Israeli air strike. (photo credit: REUTERS)
A PALESTINIAN man walks past the remains of a Khan Yunis mosque in the southern Gaza Strip early this week, which witnesses said was destroyed in an Israeli air strike.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Qatar announced on Saturday that it has decided to donate $1,000 to each Palestinian family whose house was destroyed during Operation Protective Edge.
Sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Sunday that the number of houses that were completely destroyed during the war is 797.
Palestinian Deputy Social Affairs Minister Omar al-Dari told Safa News Agency that the ministry would distribute the money coming from the Qatari Committee to Rebuild the Gaza Strip this week.
He said that the $1,000 would go to families whose houses were completely destroyed during the war.
“The government committee in Gaza will supervise the distribution of such help and the Social Affairs Ministry will distribute the money through its branches across the Gaza Strip,” he said.
“It is an urgent aid to families who have lost their homes during the [Israeli] assault so they could rent a house for several months and buy necessary things.”
On Sunday, the Qatari Committee for Rebuilding the Gaza Strip said it would double its aid to displaced families.
Ahmed Abu Ras, director of the committee, said that at the beginning of the war Qatar provided the Gaza Strip with $5million in aid.
In the second week of the war, Qatar doubled its financial aid, he said. “Recently, the committee received an additional $13 million,” Abu Ras disclosed, adding that the Gulf state would continue to provide aid to the Gaza Strip to meet the needs of Palestinians.
He said that the Palestinians have presented Qatar with a list of demands that include electricity generators and heavy machinery to remove the rubble.
Gaza City Mayor Nizar Hijazi praised Qatar for its aid, saying it was one of the first countries to offer help to the Palestinians during the war.