Managing Crises Resulting After Wars (Case Study: Managing Housing Crisis After Wars in Gaza Strip)

Abstract

Unstable conditions and circumstances in Palestine, particularly in Gaza Strip are because of the continuous Israeli military against human and place, it cause many crises affecting all sectors, including the housing sector which increase Palestinians suffering. In addition to that, reconstruction delay compounds the situation, all of this increases the importance of developing strategies to manage the crisis in all its stages and moving the reconstruction with correct foundations forward. The study aims primarily to develop the concept of crises management and dealing with them, illustrating housing crisis experienced by Gaza Strip people because of repeated Israeli attacks, and the obstacles facing the reconstruction process, by referencing to the theoretical framework, and show other countries experience in dealing with issues of reconstruction and housing after wars. All that is to gin inputs (suggestions and recommendations) to manage and solve the crisis and make the best results to human and place. This research depended on reviewing related previous studies, in addition to other countries experience in the same field. It was followed by a field research to collect data, Where it was a combination of two mechanisms to get the results. The first was through preparing a questionnaire to identify the reality of availability of crisis management systems in Gaza Strips' organizations. A thirty-eight questionnaire were analyzed. The second mechanism was through three rounds of open-ended questions sent to a group of experts in the management and construction fields to get a consensus among them on the most important related issues, what is known Delphi method. The number of experts engaged in the first and second rounds were twelve, and eleven experts in the third round. The study showed that Gaza Strip organizations have crisis management systems, but the main obstacle to apply or develop these systems is the lack of the financial support. It also showed that there is a set of obstacles that hinder the reconstruction and the provision of solutions for solving the current housing crisis in Gaza Strip such as the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza Strip from 2006 which prevents building materials and construction arrival, in addition to the lack of support or commitment of all donor pledges for reconstruction and many other obstacles.