UN welcomes UAE Jenin pledge

Aid workers in Jenin have welcomed an offer by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help rebuild the devastated West Bank refugee camp.

The UAE says it will rebuild 800 homes destroyed in recent fighting between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces.

The UAE says it has also sent a plane carrying 40 tonnes of food and medical supplies for the Palestinians.

"It is a unique contribution, with no other union of states giving such a blanket commitment to a major chunk of repairing the damage that's done," said United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) commissioner-general Peter Hansen.

Mr Hansen said the aid amounted to about $35m.