UAE donates $42m to struggling Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian Authority (PA) confirmed on Sunday that it received a US$42 million (Dh154m) support package from the UAE to help alleviate a serious deficit in the authority's treasury.

The PA has been suffering from a budget deficit in excess of $1 billion this year, due to lack of funding from donor countries, according to Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National.

"I was informed that a sum of $42 million from the UAE has been transferred to the PA's treasury," said Mahmoud Abbas, the PA chief.

"On this occasion, I extend my gratitude on behalf of the Palestinian people, who will always … remember these noble acts of support from our brothers and friends."

newsdesk@thenational.ae