S'pore sends 7th tranche of humanitarian aid for Gaza with 9 tons of medical, food, & hygiene supplies

Singapore’s seventh tranche of humanitarian aid is bound for Gaza, having left from Changi Airport on the morning of Feb.12.

The aid consisted of nearly nine tons of medical, food, and hygiene supplies from various Non-Governmental Organisations and the Ministry of Health.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) was deployed to convey the shipment to Jordan, where the shipment will make its way to Gaza.

The send-off ceremony, held at Changi Air Base (East), was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, as well as Jordan’s ambassador to Singapore, and Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Jordan.

This is the seventh tranche of humanitarian assistance to Gaza from Singapore since October 2023, totalling over S$19 million.

Friends in the Middle East

Vivian addressed the media at the send-off ceremony, thanking the groups and organisations that had worked together to make the delivery possible.

Thanking the Jordanian government and King Abdullah of Jordan for facilitating the delivery of the aid supplies, Vivian said it would not have been possible to deliver recurring tranches of humanitarian assistance without “our very close network and partnership with our friends in the Middle East”.

Singapore was working with Jordan to deliver the humanitarian aid package for Gaza through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO).

Vivian said that he hoped the desperately needed supplies would be able to reach civilians while there was still an open window to do so while the ongoing truce between Israel and Hamas “still holds”.

The war in Gaza has continued almost unabated since October 2023.

However, in recent weeks the two sides agreed on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, although in recent days the truce looks more and more tenuous.

Expression of compassion

Vivian noted the involvement of several Singaporean organisations, saying the supplies being sent to Gaza were from Singapore’s Ministry of Health, Relief SG, Mercy Relief, and the Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS) who had provided collection points, raised funds, and collected essential materials.

He also thanked the generosity of Singaporeans, saying that there were heartwarming stories of ordinary Singaporeans coming forward, delivering and sharing what they could, as an “expression of compassion”.

He added that the government would be working with the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation for further charity drives during the holy month of Ramadan.

Vivian called the current situation a tragedy, adding that while “Singapore may be far away, but we do what we can to help.”

“We are grateful that we can, in our own small way, make a difference to the lives and health of our brothers and sisters in Palestine.”

Zaqy Mohamad, who will be travelling to Amman in Jordan to deliver the aid package to JHCO, lauded the Singaporeans and NGOs who came forward to contribute and support that effort; as well as the SAF personnel who “stepped forward to take on this mission.”

Zaqy said it was hoped that the assistance would provide relief to Gazans, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

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Top photo via The Republic of Singapore Air Force/Facebook