India`s aids to Palestine make it a "true friend" of masses:PA

Harinder Mishra

Ramallah, May 7 (PTI) Appreciating India's "timely help"
with USD one million worth humanitarian relief in the
aftermath of Gaza war and ten million dollars in budgetary
assistance, the Palestinian Authority has called New Delhi a
"true friend" of the Palestinians.

India was among the first to contribute the humanitarian
aid to the people of Gaza through the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency after Israel wreaked havoc on the civilians
there during the December-January attacks.

"It (India) has proved itself a true friend and well
wisher of the Palestinian masses by being among the first ones
to provide the Palestinian Authority (PA) with budgetary
support,"Palestinian deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Soboh said.

Speaking to PTI at a ceremony to lay the foundation
stone of a multipurpose sports facility here being funded by
IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa), Soboh said the facility
will help "channelise Palestinian youngsters energy in
constructive activities".

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

The project is the first of a three year one million
USDs per year pledge made at the Paris Donors conference by
IBSA that includes the reconstruction and equipping of one
high school in the Gaza Strip.

"I consider this project as a strategic point
of attraction for our youth who will use this facility in
order to avoid negative behaviour such as smoking and
wandering in the streets," Palestinian Minister of Youth and
sports, Tahani abu Dakka, said.

UNDP, which is carrying out several developmental
projects in the Palestinian territories, will be responsible
for the execution of the plan.

"We hope that this will be the beginning of a
Palestinian sports strategy which will give young Palestinians
the opportunity to train and compete with their international
peers," Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, UNDP special representative,
said.

India has also promised the PA another 10 million USDs
in project assistance alongwith promises to send consignments
of life saving medicines from time to time, build libraries
and help constructing the Palestinian embassy in New Delhi,
the minister said.

An MoU to construct a girls high school in the West
Bank town of Abu Dis has also been signed, he said.

The Governor of Ramallah, Said Abu Ali and India's
Representative in the PA, Bishwadip Dey were also present at
the ceremony. PTI