The Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in December and January caused four billion dollars of losses to the Palestinian economy, a UN think tank said Tuesday.
Overall, the losses represent "three times the size of the Gaza economy," said Mahmud Elkhafif, coordinator of the UN Conference and Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) assistance programme for the Palestinians.
"Initial estimates put the economy's direct and indirect losses at around four billion dollars (2.8 billion euros), including the costs associated with cushioning the humanitarian impact of the military campaign of around one billion dollars," UNCTAD said in a report.
Some 88 million dollars was wiped off GDP due to the halt in economic activity alone in Gaza, it said.
Direct losses, including damage to infrastructure, public buildings, power and water supplies, as well as lost raw material stocks could reach 2.5 billion dollars, it added.
The losses in Gaza came after "another lost year for Palestinian development" in 2008 as the overall Palestinian economy lost ground for the ninth straight year, according to UNCTAD.
Although real gross domestic product was in positive territory with two percent growth, GDP per head fell by 1.2 percent, it added.
"The continued isolation of the occupied Palestinian territory under a tight Israeli closure policy and blockade of Gaza has further fragmented the economy," the... >>>
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |