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Donors pledge $5.4 billion for Gaza reconstruction

India has promised $4 million for the cause

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Press Trust of India Cairo
India has promised $4 million in the total $5.4 billion aid that the global donors have pledged at a donor conference here aimed at raising funds for rebuilding Gaza Strip that was destroyed by its 50-day conflict with Israel.

Norwegian foreign minister, Boerge Brende said that donors from different countries have pledged a $5.4 billion aid to reconstruct Gaza Strip.

"The participants pledged approximately $5.4 billion," Brende said during the closing statement at the conference, co-organised by Egypt and Norway.

The amount of donations exceeds the $4 billion, which Palestinians had asked for Gaza reconstruction after the 51-day conflict in July and August that left more than 2,000 Palestinians dead and 100,000 others homeless.
 
India has pledged on Sunday $4 million aid for Gaza, announced Sandeep Kumar, Joint Secretary (West Asia and North Africa), Ministry of External Affairs.

Kumar, who headed the Indian delegation at the conference, said that the early realisation of the objectives of the Cairo Conference will be an important element in the consolidation of the current ceasefire understanding between Palestine and Israel.

He also said that dialogue is the the only safe way for solving problems and will lead to permanent peace.

Qatar pledged $1 billion in aid, topping US and European pledges to the besieged Strip.

The US promised $212 million to meet what Secretary of State John Kerry described as an enormous challenge in Gaza, where much of the infrastructure was damaged in the conflict.

The one-day conference was attended by more than 30 foreign ministers and participation of more than 50 national delegations and around 20 representatives from regional and international organisation.

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First Published: Oct 13 2014 | 3:31 AM IST

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