NEW DELHI & CAIRO, October 22: India has sent humanitarian aid for Gaza, as its Foreign Minister S Jaishankar speaking in New Delhi said the prevailing situation in the Middle East is still “not entirely clear”.
Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave (Oct 22), India’s Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar said, “A second contributor to volatility is conflict in a globalised world where consequences spread far beyond the immediate geography. We have already experienced this with respect to Ukraine. The ripple impact of what is taking place right now in the Middle East is still not entirely clear… In different regions, there are smaller happenings whose impact is not inconsequential…”
The Indian envoy to Egypt, Ajit Gupte handed over the relief material to the Egyptian Red Crescent for distribution in the Israeli besieged and bombed Gaza strip. The medical supplies sent to Gaza include essential life-saving medicines and protective and surgical items aimed at handling emergency medical conditions. Fluids and painkillers have also been included in the Indian humanitarian aid.
ANI adds: On Saturday (21 Oct), as many as 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah border. However, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that “needs are far higher” in the enclave that has more than 2 million people.
He also called for the “safe passage of additional aid convoys across the enclave”.The Rafah border crossing was opened for a short window on Saturday morning to let 20 aid trucks enter Gaza from Egypt. Though many have welcomed the brief reopening, rights groups have asserted that much more aid is needed.
Taking to X, Ghebreyesus stated, “@WHO medical supplies crossed the Rafah border. But the needs are far higher. To meet the urgent health needs of all people in Gaza, we call for: -safe passage of additional aid convoys across the enclave -protection of all humanitarian workers -sustained access for health aid.”
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen called it an “important first step that will alleviate the suffering of innocent people.”
Taking to X, Ursula von der Leyen stated, “I welcome the opening of the Rafah border crossing point to Gaza for humanitarian aid. This is an important first step that will alleviate the suffering of innocent people. My thanks go to all those involved who made this possible.”
-Inputs from The Hindu, ANI & X.
