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21:23 GMT
ISTANBUL, Aug 31 (KUNA) -- The first forum of the International Public Foundation to Aid Gaza ended on Sunday with a call to send aid flotillas to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and break the siege imposed by Israel on the territory.
The final statement of the two-day event urges scaling up the international relief campaigns for the Palestinian people, lifting the blockade on Gaza and putting an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
"The conferees agreed to launch a fund-raising campaign aiming to collect USD one billion for the rebuilding the Strip and USD 100 million for emergency relief effort," according to the statement read by chairman of the international Arab commission to reconstruct Gaza Wa'el Al-Saqqa.
The forum gathered dozens of human rights activists and representatives of Arab, Islamic and international aid agencies, including Kuwait's 'qawafel' (convoys) group.
Head of the group Sanan Al-Ahmad said qawafel's participation in the gathering is part of Kuwait's long-standing support to the Palestinian people.
"We are keen on taking part in any activity geared for alleviating the suffering of our people in Gaza and uncovering the brutal practices of the Israeli occupation authorities," she told KUNA.
"The conferees decided to have custody of the children of the martyrs who have fallen victim to the recent Israeli military onslaught on Gaza, thus sending a message to the world that Gaza is not alone," she added.
The forum debated several papers on the needs of the beleaguered infrastructure sector in Gaza Strip in such areas as housing, water, agriculture and healthcare.
It took place a few days after Israel and the Palestinian factions signed a ceasefire deal putting an end to the Israeli military campaign on Gaza which lasted for 51 days and killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and wounded 11,000 others. (end)
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