The Al Imdaad Foundation dispatched 300 tons of food aid to Gaza last week, assisting almost half the Gaza population with some much needed aid relief. The international humanitarian NGO said after almost seven months of diplomatic and bureaucratic wrangling, the foundation’s Jordanian office successfully launched the first of its kind humanitarian aid convoy from the Jordanian capital, Amman in two phases with 7 trucks.

According to Al Imdaad’s media officer based in Jordan, Hamza Badroodien the first trucks carrying food packages left Jordan on the 8th November, reaching their destination in Gaza by the 15th November2015.

“We have mainly sent food aid that travelled on fifteen trucks. It got dispatched in two phases with seven 7 trucks at first and then 8 trucks,” Badroodien explained.

After the closing of the Rafah border, Badroodien said the organisation is hoping the aid will help the people of Gaza at a time when they are most vulnerable.

“At our offices in Jordan, our brothers there are very concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people and when we learned about the closing of the Rafah border, they worked out this program to get the food aid through,” Badroodien added.

Al-Imdaad Foundation’s country director in Jordan, Dr Nizar Al-Sheikh commended the efforts of all involved.

“Jordan has now become the trachea or windpipe of Gaza as the last remaining corridor for the entry of humanitarian aid.”

Dr Zakaria Al-Sheikh, a trustee member of Al-Imdaad Jordan and a member of the Jordanian parliament handled a good deal of the diplomatic wrangling necessary for the project to come about. He described the intense joy he felt at the launch of the convoy which was the culmination of seven months of back and forth negotiations.

Badroodien commended “key players” in facilitating the process after months of trying to get access for the convoy but adds that the joint operation with the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation more future partnerships in the region opens up.

“We are planning another convoy where we will be distributing mobile homes into Gaza. They will be set up in Gaza for those left destitute due to the ongoing conflict. In addition, in winter time, we plan on sending all the necessities needed to protect Gazans from the harsh winter conditions,” Badroodien further explained.

Lastly, Badroodien thanked South African donors for their generous donations and adds that with those contributions they can continue providing humanitarian assistance to Gazans during this difficult time.

To see a video of the project, click here:

VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)