UN chief in Gaza to launch reconstruction process

GAZA - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning to launch a reconstruction process in the coastal enclave that his organization supervises.

Ban's convoy crossed through Erez crossing point between Israel and the northern tip of Gaza and is scheduled to stay in the territory for several hours.

The UN chief headed to Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza to check a school run by the UN relief and work agency, which was hit during a 50-day Israeli offensive on Gaza that ended on Aug 26.

Ban will announce the start of the reconstruction process in the Strip, following attending a Norwegian-sponsored donor conference held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday, which raised $5.4 billion for Gaza reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Hussein al-Sheikh, the liaison chief in the Palestinian Authority, said in an emailed press statement that "constructions raw-material will be allowed to the Gaza Strip and the process of reconstruction will be launched today."

"Cements, gravel and iron are to be allowed in Gaza through Kerem Shalom in coordination with the UN," he said, adding that" the amounts of cements will be delivered to the private sector in accordance to the agreed upon mechanism."