Amid escalating Israel-Hamas war, India today sent medical aid and disaster relief material to Palestinians in Gaza. The war, in its 16th day Sunday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides.
An IAF C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine departed for El-Arish airport in Egypt on Sunday morning. The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items.
Aid trickles into Gaza
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are nearing collapse under the Israeli blockade that cut power and deliveries of food and other necessities to the territory. They are running out of basic items for easing pain and preventing infections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he had a talk with President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and expressed concerns over the Al Ahli Hospital blast in Gaza.
The prime minister told the Palestine Authority President that New Delhi will continue to send humanitarian assistance for people in Palestine.
“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," PM Modi wrote on X.
The first food, water and medicine trickled into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday after being stalled on the border for days. Four trucks in the 20-truck aid convoy were carrying drugs and medical supplies, the World Health Organization said. Aid workers and doctors warned it was not nearly enough to address Gaza's spiralling humanitarian crisis.
While United Nations leaders and agencies have welcomed the entry of a humanitarian aid convoy into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, they noted that it is only a small beginning.
