U.S. to attend donors conference on Gaza reconstruction

Source: Xinhua | 02-12-2009 13:31

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States will send a high-level delegation to the upcoming international donors' conference for rebuilding Gaza, the State Department said Wednesday.

The conference, scheduled for March 2 in the Egyptian capital Cairo, is designed to address the immediate humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the reconstruction of Gaza as an integral part of a future Palestinian state, the State Department said in a statement.

The State Department did not mention who will attend the meeting, but urges international donors to provide "substantial levels" of aid for Gaza where more than 1,300 Palestinians were killed and 5,000 injured, and around 21,000 homes were destroyed during the 22-day Israeli military offensive.

"The U.S. plans to be represented at a high level and urges members of the international community to show similar support for the Egyptian initiative," the statement said.

Egypt proposed the donors conference in late January. More than70 countries were expected at the meeting.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei