The EU said yesterday that European donors had put some $1 billion on the table to help initial recovery efforts in war-torn Gaza.

“We will present the initial package today of almost 900 million euros or one billion dollars,” Dubravka Suica, EU commissioner for the Mediterranean, said.

“We now need the conditions on the ground that will allow the support to reach the people in Gaza.” The funds would be used to clear debris and rebuild basic services such as water and sanitation.

“The governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, together with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, are participating,” Brussels said.