DUBAI: The UAE yesterday organized a solidarity day to reach out to Palestinian children in Gaza. Charities and government departments organized lectures, exhibitions and fund-raising drives for the day.
On Friday the UAE held a nationwide telethon during which more than Dhs 300 million was raised. During yesterday’s event government departments announced donations of millions of dirhams.
The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Awqaf (GAIAA) donated AED6 million while Dubai Police donated AED2 million.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and Chairman of the Foreign Aid Coordination Office, affirmed the UAE commitment to deliver emergency aid to the distressed Palestinian people in Gaza in coordination with regional and international aid agencies.
“The UAE has been at the forefront of countries working tirelessly to ameliorate the suffering of the Palestinian people. This effort will continue unabated as directed by UAE leaders,” Shaikh Hamdan said.
The Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works announced that it had held a series of meetings with Philip Ward, deputy regional director of the UN World Food Program for the Middle East and Peter Ford, representative of the commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), for identifying needs of schools in Gaza.
Salim Al-Dhahiri, acting director general of the foundation, said assistance would also be delivered to women and children who are suffering the scourge of war.
He indicated that Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, has directed the foundation to launch a massive initiative for rebuilding and renovation of schools in Gaza.
“Works on building, renovating and rebuilding schools will immediately commence once a cease-fire is enforced,” he said.
