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STORY: UN / GAZA UNOPS RECONSTRUCTION
TRT: 02:49
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 15 JANUARY 2026, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations Headquarters
15 JANUARY 2026, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press conference dais, Jorge Moreira da Silva on screen
3. Med shot, journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS):
“The new plan for Gaza, the new arrangement endorsed by the Security Council creates a new window for hope, for reconstruction. But we also know that we can't wait for the reconstruction to do whatever is possible and required tomorrow or today.”
5. Wide shot, dais, da Silva on screen
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS):
“I saw that most children smiling than I saw nine months ago. But I saw those children without shoes, without the chance to go to the school, being on the middle of the rubble, living in tents that are not proper, not safe, living in the buildings that are in the risk of collapsing. So obviously, the devastation in Gaza is massive.”
7. Wide shot, dais, da Silva on screen
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS):
“What is needed to put the power station functioning again, ten million dollars. So, my question is, is because of ten million dollars that we are not able to provide the electricity that is so crucial for the people? So, shall we just discuss the 52 billion? Can we bring the ten million immediately to repair the power station?”
9. Wide shot, dais, da Silva on screen
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS):
“Today, Gaza is rubble and tents. It's rubble and tents. But the problem is not just the volume, the problem is what is in the content of the rubble. Asbestos potentially there, mines, unexploded ordnance, unfortunately human remains. So, the problem with the rubble removal is not just, you know, bringing some capacity to sift the rubble. It requires technical capacity to assess the risks and to provide the solutions.”
11. Wide shot, dais, da Silva on screen
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS):
“How can we, you know, rehabilitate the power station if the spare parts are considered dual use and it cannot be brought? How can we remove all the rubble if the heavy machinery is not allowed? So, the point is precisely this element of access and authorisation. It's not the money alone. The financing is an element. The capacity is another element. But that is this crucial element of access that requires political will. And I would say that one of the fundamental things that we need is to remove the restrictions.”
13. Wide shot, end of presser
After visiting Gaza today (15 Jan), the Executive Director of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Jorge Moreira da Silva told journalists in New York that the plan for Gaza endorsed by the Security Council “creates a new window for hope,” but added that “we can't wait for the reconstruction to do whatever is possible and required tomorrow or today.”
Speaking from Jerusalem, Moreira da Silva said, “I saw that most children smiling” than during his previous visit nine months ago, but added that “I saw those children without shoes, without the chance to go to the school, being on the middle of the rubble, living in tents that are not proper, not safe, living in the buildings that are in the risk of collapsing.”
While in Gaza, he visited the headquarters of Gaza’s main and only power generation company, inspecting the plant that has been out of service since the outbreak of the war in October 2023.
He said, “What is needed to put the power station functioning again, ten million dollars. So, my question is, is because of ten million dollars that we are not able to provide the electricity that is so crucial for the people?”
Referring to the funds needed for reconstruction, Moreira da Silva said, “shall we just discuss the 52 billion? Can we bring the ten million immediately to repair the power station?”
He also met with United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) teams, alongside the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian Territories, Ramiz Alakbarov.
Moreira da Silva said, “today, Gaza is rubble and tents. It's rubble and tents. But the problem is not just the volume, the problem is what is in the content of the rubble. Asbestos potentially there, mines, unexploded ordnance, unfortunately human remains. So, the problem with the rubble removal is not just, you know, bringing some capacity to sift the rubble. It requires technical capacity to assess the risks and to provide the solutions.”
Ther UNOPS Chief said, “how can we, you know, rehabilitate the power station if the spare parts are considered dual use and it cannot be brought? How can we remove all the rubble if the heavy machinery is not allowed? So, the point is precisely this element of access and authorisation. It's not the money alone. The financing is an element. The capacity is another element. But that is this crucial element of access that requires political will. And I would say that one of the fundamental things that we need is to remove the restrictions.”
