Aid to Gaza: 31 lorries arrive at Rafah Crossing from local donors, foreign jets land in Arish Airport

CAIRO – 20 October 2023: Head of the Red Crescent in North Sinai Khaled Zayed told press Friday that 31 more lorries carrying aid from local donors for Gaza Strip arrived at Arish in the past few hours.

The breakdown is medicines and medical supplies donated by a private firm and distributed among 11 lorries. Food and medical aid donated by the Egyptian Food Bank and loaded on 12 lorries. And, eight lorries carrying wheelchairs, medicines, medical supplies, and food donated by the Red Crescent.

Al Qahera news reported Friday that the number of aid lorries lining in front of Rafah Crossing, waiting to enter Gaza Strip, had amounted to 175 up from 150 on Thursday. The channel's reporter also added that there were more parked on the road connecting Egypt' Rafah with Sheikh Zowayed town.

As for aid flowing from overseas, an Emirati jet landed in Arish International Airport in addition to another carrying medicines and medical supplies from Jordan. Also, the airport received a Danish jet bringing medicines and ethanol batteries late on Thursday.

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock announced Thursday that her country would donate more aid worth €50 million to Gaza Strip in addition to sending medics, expressing solidarity with Palestinian innocent fathers, mothers, and children.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip kept flowing into Egypt’s Arish International Airport in the past few days from Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, UAE, Brazil, Poland, UNICEF, and WHO.

The European Union announced it had started a humanitarian aid bridge by operating the first flight on October 16, while the second arrived on October 19. Both flights carried a total of 56 tonnes of medicines, shelter and hygiene kits prepared through UNICEF.

Further, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced Thursday that Russia had dispatched 27 tons of humanitarian assistance to the besieged residents of Gaza.

All aid is handled by the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is in charge of delivery to the Strip.