Jordan and Saudi Arabia airdrop food across Gaza strip
With approximately 1.11 million people experiencing catastrophic food insecurity in Gaza, the Kingdoms of Jordan and Saudi Arabia delivered 30 tonnes of ready-to-eat food via airdrop to Palestinians across the coastal enclave on July 7th, reported Arab News and Asharq Al-Awsat.
A statement released by the Saudi Press Agency told the public that the operation was carried out by the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation, the Jordanian Hashemite Armed Forces, and the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.
The food supplies airdropped are suitable for immediate consumption and do not require heating, as detailed by the KSrelief director general, Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah.
On May 7th, Israeli authorities closed significant border crossings into the Gaza Strip, cutting off over 2 million civilians to vital humanitarian aid. As a result, aid agencies such as KSrelief have carried out parachute drops of food aid into the enclave as a last resort.
READ: UNRWA says restrictions render Gaza aid “nearly impossible”
Al-Rabeeah has insisted that Gaza’s borders should be opened, highlighting that airdrops are neither a sustainable nor long-term solution considering the high number of people facing food insecurity.
KSrelief’s campaign for Palestinians has collected $184 million so far. Saudi Arabia is still operating an air bridge consisting of 54 planes and a sea link consisting of 8 ships. The donation campaign was under the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed.
The U.S. military built a temporary seaport in Gaza in March, but stormy seas have rendered it unstable.
The latest death toll of Israel’s offensive into Gaza stands at 38,514, with 17 out of 35 hospitals partially functioning, according to the WHO, UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Palestinian government. Gaza currently faces a healthcare crisis, worsened by an increase in communicable diseases, whilst the entire education system has come to a standstill, according to UN reports.
Arab News / Asharq-Al-Awsat / SPA and agencies
