The UAE has given $4.2 billion (Dh15.5bn) to support the Palestinian cause since 1994, a diplomat has revealed. The payments included $300 million pledged through last December's donor conference in Paris, Yusouf Sharhan, the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, told the Ministerial Conference on Capacity Building for Palestine in Jakarta.

"The UAE stands ready to offer different kinds of assistance to the Palestinian Authority to enable it to develop the economy and improve the living standards of the people," he said.

"Capacity building is vital for any people to live and develop but how can the capacity of the Palestinian people be built while they are reeling under Israeli occupation?

"Building Palestinian capacity requires the people to achieve their political independence so as to carry out any capacity building programmes under a legitimate government.

"Palestinians need the basic resources necessary for life. Capacity can't be built without taking care of the psychological and physical health of the people. Palestinians have no more confidence in an international community that adopts double standards.

"The UAE will back every possible effort for building the capacity of the Palestinian people. A start should be made by building health and educational capacities."

Sharhan appealed to the UN and other organisations to support capacity building programmes and enable the Palestinians to overcome obstacles created by Israel. More than 200 officials from 53 countries and international groups attended the conference to hear from the Palestinian Authority on capacity building and development project needs. The event was organised by Indonesia and South Africa as co-chairs of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.