With no public parks or open recreational areas, children are forced to play in the streets or dirt-filled lots. The mounds of trash that line many of the roads are not only unsightly but pose hazardous risks for those living in the area.

JumpStart crew in Rafah

To help combat this problem JumpStart has begun a new revitalization project in Rafah to clear the major roadways of waste and garbage.  By employing a crew of 40 workers for the next 3 months, JumpStart will provide 2,600 job opportunity days and help to provide a clean and healthy environment to the residents of Rafah.

JumpStart workers cleaning street in Rafah

With an operating capacity of 700,000 passengers per year, more than $110 million dollars was invested in the construction and equipping of the YAIA, yet it is currently sitting in ruins with the remnants of most buildings buried under enormous masses of rubble and debris.

In December 2001 the radar station and runway had been totally destroyed by Israeli military forces. Continuous demolitions by the Israeli Defense Force and looting by local residents desperate for scrap material, has obliterated nearly all facilities.

YAIA runway and control systems were destroyed in 2001

JumpStart International is initiating the process of repairing YAIA by removing the debris from inside the buildings and outside areas of the airport. An enormous effort has begun with clean up and salvage crews working to clear the site and unearth the remaining structures. The initial clearance phase of the project, lasting 2 months will generate approximately 1,560 working days for local laborers.