THE Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment has a Dhs63m Gaza reconstruction projects focusing on: an integrated drainage network, drinking and irrigation water projects and special assistance to fishermen.
The endowment, which was announced on Tuesday marks "a total of over Dhs640 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and all her charitable and humanitarian organisations have given out to Palestine following the recent carnage," said the Director General of the Office for Coordination of External Assistance at the office of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Hezza Al Qahtani. The Red Crescent alone accounts to over Dhs340m.
Announcing the endowment in a press conference held at the charity's offices on Green Towers in Deira, Dubai, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Establishment, Ibrahim Bumelha said the projects come in line with the directives of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to support the Palestinian people.
Flanked by the Assistant Director General of the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Juma Al Falasi, Bumelha noted that studies conducted by the establishment have indicated the need to initiate these projects to improve the living conditions of the people of Gaza and to provide them with a stable and a decent income.
"We are coordinating with the competent authorities and establishments in the Gaza strip to implement these projects effectively," he said.
He added that the drainage project, which would cost a total of Dh8m, includes reconstruction of the damaged drainage net work by setting up nine pumping stations, control rooms, sewage network, and a 6-km long main line.
Over a dozen damaged wells and pipes were captured on still pictures and they were shown to the media on a wide projector.
"The second project," he said "aimed at improving the provision of drinking and irrigation water, involves renovation of 9 borewells that were partly destroyed during the war, reconstruction of two wells that were destroyed completely, digging of 10 new wells and reconstruction of a large water tank, as people of Gaza depend mainly on borewells to pump water to the purification stations, from where it is delivered to homes using an integrated pipe line network, which was also destroyed partially during the recent war."
He added; "This project also includes reconstruction of three water stations where the water is collected and treated before being pumped into the network.
The destroyed pipeline network would also be repaired and new pipes would be fixed. As for the irrigation water, some 250 destroyed wells would be reconstructed and 53 wells, that were partially damaged, would be renovated. The total cost of this project is estimated at Dhs54.34m."
Bumelha added that the third project is aimed at helping the fishermen by setting up some 48 local shops for selling fish and fishermen's accessories.
"Also, 54 small fishing boats would be provided to fishermen who lost their boats during the recent attacks. In addition, four big boats that were used in pulling ships and other purposes would also be provided to them. The total cost of this project is estimated at Dhs752,464."
He noted that Gaza's 1.5 million people would benefit from these projects in one or other as they are going to be implemented in areas like Jabaliya, Khan Younis, Northern Gaza, Middle Gaza, Gaza City, Rafah, Bait Hanoun, Bait Lahiya, and other main cities of the Gaza strip. - The Gulf Today