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29 March 2024

1,200 houses ordered for Palestinians

Sheikh Khalifa (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Wam

The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday each offered to build 600 houses for Palestinians whose properties have been demolished during the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed said the gesture was a show of support for resistance of the Palestinian people "on their soil and in their homeland".

Meanwhile, a UAE-wide telethon appeal to raise funds in support of the Palestinian people of Gaza got under way yesterday, and at the time of going to press had raised Dh141 million.

The live TV and radio campaign, Relief for the Palestinian People, which started yesterday at 2pm, was held on the instructions of Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed, and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The fund-raising drive was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA).

A UAE relief convoy yesterday arrived en route to the Rafah border crossing to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to the people who are affected by current crisis in Gaza.

UAE Ambassador in Cairo Ahmed Al Zaabi said the 50-truck convoy was carrying 300 tonnes of essential relief supplies purchased in Egypt.

Al Zaabi, along with a delegation from the RCA, handed the assistance to the United National Relief and Works Agency in the presence of its director in Cairo Rola Khalfawi.

"The UAE leadership lends proper attention to the current humanitarian situation in Gaza and is striving to mitigate impact of the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people," said Al Zaabi.

Dr Saleh Al Taie, adviser to the RCA secretary-general, said the shipment was the second phase of an RCA relief programme to Gaza launched since the eruption of hostilities on December 27, 2008.

"In the first phase, we have purchased medical supplies from the Palestinian territories through a number of UN agencies operating there and delivered them to hospitals in Gaza. Two units for childcare were also delivered in co-ordination with Unicef," he said.