NEW YORK: The United Arab Emirates has renewed its commitment to continue providing humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority.
This came in a statement made by Ambassador Ahmed Al-Jarman, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations before the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly on item 70: Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance; Assistance to the Palestinian people.
Al Jarman said that UAE is one of the major contributors to the immediate humanitarian assistance and development projects, as well as to the direct budget of the Palestinian Authority and UAE's contribution in 2011 amounted to 34 million dollars earmarked to support the government and development projects.
The statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM), said that the annual reports of the Secretary General on this item demonstrate an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in many areas in the world due to the increase in disasters caused by natural phenomena, climate change and continued conflicts and violence.
Al Jarman pointed out that the solidarity and quick response from the international community to confront such disasters, the challenges facing the International humanitarian activities remain big and numerous, requiring more resources, international efforts and cooperation.
Al Jarman concerned about the deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian territories resulting from the continued Israeli occupation and the policies of aggression and closure, especially in the Gaza Strip, which is still subjected to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupying forces for years, and the brutal attacks it endured lately.
The UAE renews its demand from the international community to compel Israel, the occupying power, to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip, immediately and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people, end its occupation of the Arab lands. We further urge the donor countries to continue their assistance to the Palestinian people and government in anticipation of the end of the Israeli occupation of their land and the establishment of their independent state, Al Jarman added. (QNA)
