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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has built 223 homes in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, providing shelter for 1,300 refugees who lost their homes during Israeli offensives against the coastal region.

The project was conducted by the UNRWA with the generous support of the Netherlands who donated $7.2 Million.

The UNRWA held an official ceremony, headed by Brigitta Tazelaar, head of Mission of the Netherlands Representation to the Palestinian Authority, who handed the keys of the new homes to the residents.

The Dutch Representative to the Palestinian Authority stated that her country is calling on the Israeli government to provide the UNRWA with additional funding so that it can continue the remaining residential constructions as soon as possible, the Ma'an News Agency reported.

The UNRWA intends to build 521 additional houses in the Gaza Strip in addition to paving roads, improving water infrastructure, and rebuilding dozens of structures destroyed by Israeli missiles and shells during the 2008-2009 three-week war that led to the death of more than 1,419 Palestinians, and thousands more wounded. Most of the casualties were civilians, including infants, children, women, elderly, and rescue teams.

On his part, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA Filippo Grandi stated that financial aid to the UNRWA means that it will be able to rebuild homes, and to rebuild lives in the Gaza Strip.