Gaza

At the conclusion of the British Mandate for Palestine in 1948 the population of Gaza was approximately 20,000. With the influx of the refugee population Gaza grew, and by 1967 and the onset of the Israeli occupation. The population was roughly 120,000. Since that time, Gaza has continued to grow due to a combination of high birth rates and declining death rates that have resulted from improved health care. The built-up area around the city has rapidly expanded in response to the population growth, yet pockets of agricultural land remain in Gaza itself. The infrastructure of the city has suffered from the combination of increased demand and Israeli governmental neglect; roads are too narrow and in poor condition, housing stock is dilapidated, and serious problems of hygiene and public health stem from lack of sewerage and waste removal. In May 1994 Israeli troops withdrew from the Palestinian towns and refugee camps of the Gaza Strip, and the area came under Palestinian authority, The Taba agreement, signed in 1995, extended Palestinian self-rule. International development aid has been promised to improve conditions in Gaza but, to date, little has been accomplished.