China's Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao (L) presents gifts to Palestinian children at Haifa Community Center in Baghdad, Iraq, August 6, 2019. Zhang Tao on Tuesday delivered gifts to Palestinian children and assistance to the center in eastern Baghdad ahead of Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
BAGHDAD, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's embassy in Iraq on Tuesday delivered gifts to Palestinian children and assistance to a community center in eastern Baghdad ahead of Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice.
In a ceremony at Haifa Community Center in Baladiyat district, China's Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao jointly with Palestinian Ambassador in Iraq Ahmed Aqil and United Nations Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Iraq Ayman Gharaibeh handed over toys and sports equipment to Palestinian children and provided computers to support the community center.
"I am pleased to visit Haifa community center to meet our friends, the Palestinians, inside this center and to extend congratulations in advance on the occasion of Eid al-Adha as there has always been good relations between our peoples," Zhang told the ceremony.
"I came to the Haifa community to provide some toys and bags to children here, including providing computer support to the community center, and hoped that Palestinian refugees living in Baghdad would receive our help," Zhang said.
"China's government and its people firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people and hope that the Palestinian refugees will return to their country in the near future," he added.
"We support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the basis of 1967 borders," Zhang said, confirming China's firm stance toward the Palestinian cause.
For his part, Gharaibeh told Xinhua that there is a lot of support presented by the Chinese government in many countries, but "this is exclusive for this project (Palestinian community center)."
"This is why we have made this effort to highlight that. Because it is fair to mention that it is an exceptional support which came at the right time," Gharaibeh added.
China has provided assistance of 2 million U.S. dollars to the Palestinian refugees in Iraq through UNHCR to provide medicine, medical aid and scholarships for Palestine refugees in Iraq in addition to projects like rehabilitation of Haifa Community Center, also known as Haifa Club.
Since the implementation of the project, more than 7,500 Palestine refugees in Iraq have benefited from medical care and education.
The rehabilitation of Haifa Community Center in Baghdad has improved the health care, sports and educational facilities of the surrounding residents and paved the way for Palestinian refugees to live in harmony with local Iraqi residents and deepen their friendship.
Haifa Club was built in 1973 for the Palestinian refugees in Baghdad, but was abandoned and parts of its buildings were demolished after the collapse of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Its soccer field was filled with tents of homeless Palestinian families, who were victims like other minorities in Iraq because of the violence and chaos that engulfed the country in the years that followed the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
