International donors held a conference in support of the Palestinian economy for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, during which they pledged a total of 4.481 billion U.S. dollars of donation.
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) shakes hands with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana during the international donors' conference to plan the reconstruction of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, in Sharm El-Sheikh of Egypt, March 2, 2009. Officials and representatives from more than 70 countries and some 15 organizations attended the conference kicked off Monday morning. [Xinhua]
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"We gathered today 4.481 billion dollars (for rebuilding Gaza),"Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a chair's conclusion statement at a press briefing following the Gaza aid conference held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, adding "it's beyond of our expectations."
In addition to previous pledges, Abul Gheit said, the total sum of international donations reached 5.2 billion dollars, which has exceeded the Palestinian request of amount.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) requested 2.8 billion dollars for Gaza reconstruction and Palestinian economic recovery, according to an official report by acting Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Senior officials and representatives from over 70 countries and 15 international organizations attended the conference to plan the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, among other officials and delegates, attended the meeting opened by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The Israeli attacks against Gaza that ended on Jan. 18, had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians and wounded 5,500 others. According to UN reports, the attacks also destroyed more than 14,000 homes, 68 government buildings and 31 offices of nongovernmental organizations.
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Chinese envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan attends the international donors' conference to plan the reconstruction of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on March 2, 2009. [Xinhua]
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Photo taken on March 2, 2009 shows the general view of an international donors' conference to plan the reconstruction of the Palestinian Gaza Strip in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on March 2, 2009. Officials and representatives from more than 70 countries and some 15 organizations attended the conference kicked off on Monday morning. [Xinhua]
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