Evaluation of Construction Materials Supply into Gaza Strip Case Study of Karm Abu Salem Crossing Border

Abstract

The research aimed to study and evaluate the supplying process of construction materials into the Gaza Strip through Karm Abu Salem Crossing Border and determining the factors that affect the supplying process. A survey questionnaire was used to collect the needed data supported by interviews, the population was 120 construction materials traders that works under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. The research show that the supplying of construction materials into the Gaza Strip consists of two main streams; first stream called Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) which brokered through United Nations Special Coordinator (UNSCO) for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Robert Serry, and the second stream belongs to Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit (COGAT) that allow international organisations to coordinate for construction materials for their projects. Research results show that the current process of supplying construction materials takes time and cost using Karm Abu Salem crossing border, and the allowed quantities of construction materials is not enough. The research recommends that the current used mechanisms should be changed or modified to be easier to fit with the high demand. Also the research recommends to open new suitable crossing border and to ask for increase in the allowed quantities.