Saudi Arabia finances a housing programme in Hebron

Saudi Arabia finances a housing programme in Hebron
Date: 14 / 02 / 2007  Time:  11:11
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Ma'an - On 11 February 2007, in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on mutual cooperation between UN-HABITAT and the Saudi
Committee was signed in order to establish a "Housing and Income Generating
Programme for Widowed and Poor Women in Al Khalil (Hebron), the West Bank,
the occupied Palestinian territories".

In a press release from the United Nations Human Settlements Program
(UN-HABITAT), it is reported that the memorandum was signed by Anna
Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, and Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi
Al-Harthi, Chairman, Saudi Committee for the Palestinian People Relief, and
Advisor to the Minister of Interior. The occasion was witnessed by Dr. Jamal
Al-Shobaki, the Palestinian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Over a three year period, the Saudi Committee will provide US$ 6.3 million
to finance this new programme, which will include the construction of 100
housing units, the development of income generating projects and training
for widowed and poor women, in addition to building capacities of the
Ministry of Labor and Social affairs.

It is stated in the press release that Mrs Tibaijuka expressed her pleasure
that the memorandum was signed in the wake of the Mecca agreement, which she
described as "an auspicious development".

Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi Al-Harthi said that the programme falls within the
framework of the humanitarian and developmental role of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia to benefit the Palestinian people. He added that the Saudi Committee
has signed several agreements with other UN agencies to implement relief and
development projects in the Palestinian territories.