Emirates Red Crescent Donates AED150 million for Gaza Reconstruction

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has signed an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) whereby ERC provides AED150 million for the reconstruction of Gaza Strip.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of ERC, who attended the signing of the agreement by Hamdan Musallam Al Mazroui, Chairman of the ERC, and Peter Ford, Representative of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA in the Arab World, said the new agreement lays the foundations for a new phase of partnership between ERC and UNRWA.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed reiterated U.A.E.'s fundamental and historic commitment to standing for the Palestinian people and to supporting their humanitarian causes.

"The leadership and people of U.A.E. are following the very painful happenings in Gaza and are deeply grieved at them. The humanitarian suffering of Gazans is a major concern for the wise leadership who spared no effort to harness the resources and mobilise efforts to stand by their side and help them overcome this plight without reminding them of the favours done for them." H.H. Sheikh Hamdan explained that the project include the building and restoration of damaged houses, health, educational and services institutions in Gaza Strip as part of ERC's development efforts to alleviate the impact of the current events in Gaza and improve the life of Palestinians.

Gaza reconstruction, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed emphasised, is only one in a series of development projects being carried out by ERC in response to directives from the wise leadership and with the support of donors for the improvement of the humanitarian conditions of Palestinians, the fulfillment of their basic needs and providing dignified life for them.

"ERC has never been inattentive of the demands of the Palestinian refugees in the diaspora, in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in particular, and has maintained contact with them through its humanitarian and relief operations and projects. ERC has always maintained a strong presence in the efforts to provide favourable living conditions at refugee camps through the fulfillment of health, educational and social needs of the refugees and the bolstering of services at the camps." H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed added that ERC has had great interest in housing and services sectors which bear the brunt of damage and carried out large-scale projects throughout Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The Sheikh Zayed District in Jerusalem, the reconstruction of Jenin Refugee Camp, Emirates Neighbourhood in Rafah, Sheikh Zayed City in Beit Lahia, Rafah Charity Hospital, and Sheikha Salam bint Butti Eye Hospital in Nablus are ambitious projects which would not have been completed without the noble initiatives of the U.A.E. wise leadership and the support of Emirati and expatriate donors and philanthropist.

On his part, Mr. Ford said ERC has become internationally renowned for its humanitarian work and is now a driver for other agencies. This is what made UNRWA bolster its partnership with ERC for the implementation of the projects that elevate the level of services for Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian Territories and in the diaspora.