Forty aid trucks enter Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah crossing

Ahram Online , Tuesday 16 Jan 2024

The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) delivered 40 trucks on Tuesday to the Palestinian Red Crescent through the Egyptian Rafah border crossing, loaded with humanitarian aid.

Egyptian Red Crescent
The Egyptian Red Crescent with his Palestinian counterpart loading trucks with humanitarian aid to be transported to Gaza on Monday 15 January, 2024. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Red Crescent.

 

The trucks contain food, water, relief aid, and medical supplies, ready to be delivered to the people of the Gaza Strip.

These trucks add to the tally of the aid-loaded trucks that reached 9,000 until Sunday, crossing from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to Gaza since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, according to Egypt's State Information Service Chairman Diaa Rashwan.

Rashwan indicated that Egypt’s private and public contributions comprise 82 percent of total aid delivered to Gaza.

He also stated that the major hurdle for the swift delivery of aid to Gaza over the past 100 days has been the deliberate delays imposed by Israeli authorities inspecting the aid at border crossings.

Rashwan said Egypt's Rafah crossing has never been closed for a moment during the 100-day war or before, noting that Egypt, via several official statements, has called on Israel to stop hindering humanitarian aid under the pretext of inspection delays.

He reiterated Egypt’s steadfast commitment to accelerating the transfer of aid to Gaza to alleviate the unprecedented humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians.

On Monday, Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Egypt’s presidential adviser for health affairs, announced that Egypt has provided aid to Gaza worth $196 million.

Tag El-Din added that the Egyptian Red Crescent has offered assistance with an estimated cost of $70 million.

Highlighting the substantial aid delivered, Rashwan reported that, during the 100 days of the Israeli war on Gaza, 7,000 tons of medical assistance, 50,000 tons of food, and 20,000 tons of water entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

Additionally, 1,000 tents, tarps, and relief materials, along with 11,000 tons of various relief items and 88 new ambulances, were provided. A total of 405,000 tons of fuel and household gas were also delivered.

Rashwan noted that Egypt has received 1,210 patients from Gaza for treatment in Egyptian and friendly countries' hospitals, accompanied by around 1,085 attendants.

Moreover, 23,000 individuals, including Palestinians, foreigners, dual citizens, and 2,623 stranded Egyptians, crossed through the Rafah crossing.

 

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