Palestinian President thanks UAE for pledging to build 1,200 housing units in Gaza

Amman, Jan 13, 2009 (WAM) - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Coordination Office of UAE Foreign Aid, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sunday made a phone call to Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, during which they discussed the situation in the region, particularly efforts being made to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the Palestinian President expressed profound gratitude to the UAE for the generous donations and pledges by the UAE leadership, government and people, with his special gratitude going to President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Each of the two leaders pledged to build 600 housing units in Gaza, in addition to rebuilding of a number of schools and hospitals destroyed by the Israeli army.

President Abbas said the generous assistance the UAE continues to give to the Palestinian people in all areas is a continuation of the history of UAE leadership's and people's generosity towards the Palestinian people and cause which has become one of the pivotal issues of the UAE since the time of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

It is worth noting here that the pledges would be implemented through some UN institutions.