Friday, March 25, 2011

AFRICA: EGYPT: Rafah opened for Egypt cement import

An Egyptian delegation will arrive in Gaza Thursday afternoon, bringing ten truckloads of cement, in an attempt to ease the Israeli-led siege on the coastal enclave, which prohibits the import of building materials. 

Cement and iron are permitted into Gaza only via international organizations like the UN, and state-sponsored development initiatives from USAID and the German Development Bank. 

The import was organized by the International Egyptian Federation, which obtained permission to travel into Gaza via the Rafah crossing. 

Organizers said the initiative was part of a larger effort that hopes to see the Rafah crossing turned into a commercial terminal. 

Israel closed down all but one of its import terminals for Gaza, most recently shutting the Karni bulk goods crossing on March 2.

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