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Background
Al Qubba is a vicinity in Al Shigaia neighborhood in Gaza city. Shijaia is
one of the underprivileged districts in Gaza which has an area of 5,920
donums (a donum = 1000 m2) and about 58,000 residents. Shijaia has suffered,
as well as all neighborhoods of Gaza, from deliberate negligence during the
long 27 years of the Israeli occupation. As Shijaia is considered one of the
heavily populated neighborhoods in Gaza, the Municipality has given it a
priority in comprehensive development in order to face the many
environmental and social dangers due to the lack of proper infrastructure,
health, sports, education, and recreation facilities.
During the past years the Municipality has directed many funds to upgrade
the Al Qubba neighborhood (with population of 17,480 citizens). New infrastructure as well as educational,
recreational, and health facilities were constructed or still under
construction but much more is still needed.
As children are the leaders of tomorrow, the Municipality is keen to provide
recreational and educational facilities in order to help them spend their
free time in peaceful and productive healthy activities similar to other
children of the world. The Municipality also believes that, developing
public spaces will improve the sense of public property and lead to a more
harmonious town. At Shijaia neighborhood, no recreation facilities or green
areas for children exist. Dunkerque city, the French twin City of Gaza,
sponsored phase I and phase II for this park by donating funds to plant a
number of palm trees and performing some basic concrete works. Dunkerque was
the first town which signed an agreement of twining with Gaza in 1997.
Towards the end of 2002, the Municipality started launching a neighborhood
development project covering selected areas of the city including Al Qubba
Park Phase III. Works, procurement of equipment and external services
relating to that project is covered by a grant from AFD (Agence Francise de
Development). Mr. Michel Dellebare, Mayor of Dunkerque Urban Community has
shown interest in coming to Gaza at the end of the year 2003 for the
official inauguration of this Park.
Al Qubba Park (see map for location) is considered an important element towards
the comprehensive development of the Shijaia neighborhood. The Municipality
places great importance to the development of public areas, which is
urgently needed, in Al Qubba neighborhood. The Park site was selected after
examining a series of potential locations in the area. The intentions are to
provide the neighborhood with public areas to complement the other projects
which was implemented or those are under construction or planned.
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