India provides humanitarian relief and budget aid to Palestine

Source: Xinhua | 05-08-2009 16:16

NEW DELHI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- India has donated one million U.S. dollars worth of humanitarian relief aid to Palestinians in Gaza and 10 million dollars in budgetary assistance to the Palestinian Authority, reported the semi-official Press Trust of India Friday.

India was among the first to contribute the humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, after the Israeli raids upon the territory from last December to January, said the report.

Palestinian officials have thanked India for being a true friend of the Palestinian people by being among the first ones to provide the Palestinian Authority with budgetary support, according to the report.

Palestinian officials also held a ceremony Thursday in Ramallah to lay the foundation stone of a multipurpose sports facility funded by India, Brazil and South Africa, said the report.

The construction of the indoor facility, worth one million U.S. dollars, will include a basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis and handball courts.

The project is the first of a three year one million U.S. dollar per year pledge made at the Paris Donors conference by India, Brazil and South Africa that also includes the reconstruction and equipping of one high school in Gaza, said the report.

Editor:Zhang Yun