Malaysia announces conference to support Gaza reconstruction efforts
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Malaysia announced it would contribute to the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, including a school, a hospital, and a mosque.
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An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 (AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra)
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a planned conference to support reconstruction efforts in Palestine.
The ministry revealed on Friday it was working with Japan to host the fourth session of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) in Malaysia this year, emphasizing the latter's proactive involvement in garnering international assistance and deepening collaboration to guarantee the long-term viability and effect of rehabilitation activities in Palestine.
The ministry stated that the conference is consistent with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent remarks on the urgent need to hasten reconstruction in Palestine.
We are "fully committed to working side by side with Japan within the framework of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development to respond to the Palestinians’ clear call for assistance," it said in a statement.
The ministry added that as part of these efforts, it intends to contribute to the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, including a school, a hospital, and a mosque.
It stated that it would work with Japan to engage CEAPAD participants in gaining the required pledges for the group's redevelopment operations in Gaza. This involves a series of coordination meetings before the conference to ensure that aid and donations to Palestine are distributed more efficiently and sustainably for long-term development.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry reiterated its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and its continuous collaboration with regional and international partners to ensure that the fourth CEAPAD meeting results in real steps.
Clearing explosives in Gaza to delay rebuilding for years
US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy said two days ago that rebuilding the Gaza Strip could take 10-15 years, highlighting the vast destruction caused by the Israeli aggression on the besieged territory over the last 15 months.
To make matters worse, any efforts to rebuild Gaza face immense obstacles, including unexploded ordnance scattered across devastated neighborhoods, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The humanitarian organization warned this week that clearing these remnants of war will take years, significantly delaying the reconstruction of homes, infrastructure, and essential services.
"People are trying to rebuild from the rubble. Rafah is destroyed, with homes, shops, streets and healthcare facilities in ruins and electricity and water systems damaged. The area is also unsafe due to scattered unexploded artillery in the remnants of buildings, which will take years to clean," said Pascale Coissard, part of MSF's emergency coordination team.
The city of Rafah, which suffered heavy damage during the war, remains largely uninhabitable. Coissard said that without health services and broader humanitarian aid, resuming daily life in many areas of Gaza will remain impossible.
"Health services, including the rest of humanitarian aid, and rebuilding of the city is needed for life to be able to come back to Rafah, but it's still too dangerous for people to return in most areas," she stated, stressing the ongoing risks even after the ceasefire.
