2023-11-07 14:54:27
A plane carrying 45 tons of humanitarian aid – mainly medical equipment – intended for the Gaza Strip took off fromOstend this Tuesday, while another flight left Dubai with logistical equipment, as part of the humanitarian airlift set up by the European Union. The two planes are destined for the Egyptian town of El-Arich, near the Rafah border post, where their cargo will be entrusted to the Egyptian Red Crescent, specifies the European Commission.
“We have completed first eight humanitarian air flights, the last of which took off this morning from Belgium. This represents more than 400 tons of humanitarian assistanceincluding essential elements of survival, such as shelter, food, water, sanitary and hygiene supplies,” said a spokesperson for the European Commission, Balazs Ujvari, this Tuesday midday. When the situation on site allows it, the loads are transported to the Gaza Strip.”
The spokesperson mentions “some improvements” in access to the Gaza Strip, following weeks of sporadic openings of the border post. “But we cannot stop emphasizing the importance ofexpand humanitarian access (…) Any limitation in terms of quantity or type of objects violates international humanitarian law.”
This is the first humanitarian aid flight from Ostend to Gaza, others will follow in the coming weeks, announces Tom De Smedt, spokesperson for the European Commission representation in Belgium. It evokes a “well located” airportamong other things for medical equipment.” “The airport ‘slots’ are also more flexible than in larger airports, but such operations are often planned at the last minute,” he adds.
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