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Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

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Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

2025-01-23 13:18 Last Updated At:19:27

The city of Rafah in the southernmost region of Gaza is now focusing its efforts to clear conflict-generated rubbles and rebuild with limited resources after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday.

As a first step for reconstruction, southern Gaza towns are giving priority to restoring rubble-blocked roads to facilitate the inflow of residents coming back from refugee camps.

In Rafah, local authorities have planned to clear rubbles left on city roads in 10 days. However, given the severity of damage caused by over a year of conflict and most of the city's heavy construction machinery destroyed in the conflict, the initial stage of recovery has posed as a tremendous challenge.

"Currently, the biggest challenge is to reopen the city's main thoroughfares. We are trying to create a road wide enough for one or two vehicles to pass. But this is just moving the debris to the side of the road, not fully clearing it. The amount of rubbles is just too overwhelming, and without heavy machinery, it's impossible for us to do the work," said Khaled Eid, a supervisor of the local emergency response efforts.

A United Nations report estimates that it will take approximately 21 years to clear the over 50 million tons of rubbles and debris left by Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.

UN officials also said that the war has wiped out nearly 69 years of development in Gaza, with the Mayor of Rafah expressing deep concern over the city's future.

"Right now, we can't fully comprehend the extent of damage to this city. If things progress smoothly, we hope to find out in the coming period whether the city's water and sewage networks have been affected by the war. What you see now is almost all of our bulldozers. We are working hard to clear the main streets and intersections. The civil defense department is also working with the international community and relevant organizations to search for explosive remnants and prepare for the return of more people," said Ahmed al-Sufi, Rafah's mayor.

Despite the challenging situation, residents are returning to Rafah and they immediately start to assist local authorities with the cleanup efforts. People say no matter how much devastation the war has caused, this is still their home.

"Standing in the middle of this city, all I see are rubbles and debris. This place used to be so lively, but now it seems there is no sign of life. After nine months of being away, we've finally come back for the first time. Thank God we're still alive. We are determined to rebuild our home, no matter how many times it has been destroyed. Despite the sadness, pain, and suffering, we will not leave here," said Mohammed, a local resident.

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

Southern Gaza struggles to rebuild from ruins, with limited resources

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China ready to push ties with Argentina to higher level: FM

2025-02-15 22:02 Last Updated At:22:37

China is ready to work with Argentina to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and bring the bilateral relations to a new level, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

This will benefit the people of the two countries and help China and Latin America achieve common development and prosperity, Wang said. He made the remarks during a meeting with his Argentine counterpart Gerardo Werthein on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the Chinese and Argentine people have enjoyed a long-standing friendship, and China-Argentina cooperation is equal and mutually beneficial.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Javier Milei held a meeting and reached important consensus on consolidating and developing bilateral relations, said Wang.

China is willing to work with Argentina to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and strengthen exchanges at the high level and in all fields, so as to bring the bilateral relations to a new level and better benefit the people of both countries, he said.

Wang also said the two sides should continue to respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and continuously consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations.

Wang pointed out that China does not seek spheres of influence, nor does it participate in geopolitical competition. In international affairs, China firmly practices multilateralism and is willing to work with Latin American countries, including Argentina, to firmly safeguard the international rule of law and the basic norms of international relations, he said.

Wang noted that China-Argentina relations are an important part of China-Latin America relations. Over the past decade since its establishment, the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum has effectively promoted China-Latin America cooperation and brought tangible benefits to the people of both sides, he said.

China is willing to work with Latin American countries to support the development and growth of the China-CELAC Forum, helping China and Latin America achieve common development and prosperity, said Wang.

Werthein said that Argentina attaches great importance to its relations with China, and looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges and deepening pragmatic cooperation with China.

Noting that Argentina appreciates China's support for Argentina's defense of its sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, Werthein said Argentina firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to become a reliable and stable cooperative partner of China.

Werthein also said that Argentina will play an active role in promoting the development of Latin America-China relations on the basis of strengthening bilateral relations.

China ready to push ties with Argentina to higher level: FM

China ready to push ties with Argentina to higher level: FM

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