GENEVA Xavier Woods Color Rush Jersey , Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The effects of last year's conflict combined with deteriorating economic trends could render Gaza uninhabitable by 2020, a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Tuesday cautioned.


UNCTAD's report on assistance to the Palestinian people indicates that eight years of economic blockade have compounded the effects of hard-hitting military operations which have further hampered the territory's ability to export and produce for its domestic market.


According to estimates laid out in UNCTAD's report, last year's conflict alone either damaged or completely destroyed 247 factories, 300 commercial centres, 20,000 Palestinian homes, 148 schools Jourdan Lewis Color Rush Jersey , 15 hospitals and 45 primary health-care centres, while displacing some 500,000 people.


UNCTAD reported that serious damage was also inflicted on Gaza's sole power plant, while the agricultural sector suffered 550 million U.S. dollars of losses.


Three major military operations were conducted by Israeli forces between 2008 and 2014.


Figures show that unemployment levels in Gaza reached record highs in 2014, with 44 percent of the population being jobless, while per capita gross domestic product decreased by 30 percent compared to 1994.


With exports from Gaza remaining almost completely blocked, and imports and cash transfers severely restricted Chidobe Awuzie Color Rush Jersey , UNCTAD warned that donor aid will not be able to reverse the continued de-development and impoverishment of Gaza.

" No sand, no beach: Snow volleyball takes Alps by storm

Beach shorts over thermal underwear, wool hats instead of bikinis and not a grain of sand in sight: a new sport has emerged in the Alps and it's called snow volleyball.


Think of it as beach volleyball at 6,500 feet (2,000 metres), played on white powder with skiers whizzing by.


Casually, the sport has been around for years Taco Charlton Color Rush Jersey , but organisers of the Snow Volleyball Tour -- set up in 2009 and now including stops in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland -- hope it could soon become a competitive event.


As winter sports fanatics enjoyed the last runs of the season, the Austrian ski resort of Sankt Anton hosted the final of the Tour earlier this month in a beach-like atmosphere.


Players dug, set and spiked, surrounded by potted palm trees and peppy cheerleaders. But instead of bikinis, the choice of attire was a little heavier and warmer than usual Connor Williams Color Rush Jersey , with football boots de rigueur to guard against frozen toes.


""It's a mad setting! I went skiing yesterday and it was an incredible feeling to ski to the 'beach volleyball' court,"" said German player Ulrike Pfletschinger, who made it to the final in her first snow volleyball tournament.


""The tactics are exactly the same. You also plan everything beforehand but the movements are completely different. You slip an awful lot, you can't really brake so you don't jump as high. But it's a great challenge, it's super!""


Some 50 teams from around the world, including active beach volleyball and indoor volleyball players, took part in this year's Snow Volleyball Tour Leighton Vander Esch Color Rush Jersey , held in March and April.


Past participants have included Olympic, world championship and European championship medallists.


""People have always set up a net (in winter), but marketing it this way, as a professional event with an international tour in the Alps, that's never been done before. We're unique,"" said Martin Kaswurm, one of the masterminds of the tournament.


The Austrian volleyball association (OeVV) has already recognised the sport Dak Prescott Color Rush Jersey , and talks are under way to get a green light from the German and Swiss authorities.


""We want to become an official sport in the alpine region, and then perhaps one day we can become an Olympic sport,"" Kaswurm said with a grin.


- Boost for tourism -


Amid sunshine and springlike temperatures and with a DJ pumping out dance music between points, several hundred volleyball fans and relaxing skiers cheered on the players. Over the whole tour, organisers said they attracted some 15,000 spectators.


""It's a fun idea,"" said Kristine Kindler Ezekiel Elliott Color Rush Jersey , a German tourist taking a break from skiing with friends.


She said she could imagine this becoming a bigger attraction in years to come, much like ski halfpipe or snowboard slopestyle, which made their Olympic debuts this year in Sochi.


""A lot of sports weren't taken seriously but then established themselves... I think if you want to reach young people, you need to offer this kind of thing.""


For OeVV head Peter Kleinmann, ""snow volleyball is definitely a nice plus for alpine countries,"" as well as a potential boost for tourism.


Held before the start of the beach volleyball season, the Tour already offers a good training opportunity for players and a useful preview of the competition.


""It's good to see how they improved during the winter... We will figure out who is better Cowboys Chaz Green Jersey , who is worse and then we will know the tactics,"" joked Czech player David Kufa.


Since the Snow Volleyball Tour began, other tournaments have followed in Slovenia, Spain, the United States and Canada.


""That's great for us because the more people play this sport, the more recognition we will get from international associations,"" Kaswurm said.


""And that's our goal in the long run: to really make it a widespread sport in the next five to 10 years.""


(Agencies)

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