In a significant stride toward implementing the Qatar-France cooperation, initiated during Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s current visit to Paris, three Qatari Armed Forces aircraft landed in the city of El Arish, Egypt. The aircraft carried a combined total of 75 tons of humanitarian supplies jointly provided by Qatar and France, destined for the people of Gaza.
محادثات مثمرة مع الرئيس ماكرون في باريس اليوم لتعزيز شراكتنا الاستراتيجية وفق تعاون ثنائي شامل يرتقي بتطلعاتنا المشتركة. تشاورنا بشأن مستقبل القضية الفلسطينية باعتبارها حجر الزاوية في الاهتمامات الدولية والإقليمية لقطر، ونبذل كل جهد لوقف الحرب في غزة وإيصال المساعدات للأشقاء. pic.twitter.com/CVyLDTNw1h
— تميم بن حمد (@TamimBinHamad) February 27, 2024
The Qatar Foreign Ministry, in a statement, elaborated on the joint humanitarian aid initiative, stating, “Qatar and the French Republic have launched an initiative for cooperation in the field of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians besieged in the Gaza Strip.”
Included in the aid package are 10 ambulances, crucial shelter materials, and essential food provisions, underscoring the commitment of both Qatar and France to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.
The delivery of aid comes amid escalating calls for increased assistance to Gaza, which faces one of its most challenging periods yet. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Gaza, Israel’s sustained offensive in the region has left Gaza in a precarious state, with its medical, education, and food sectors severely strained. Despite mounting international condemnation, the situation on the ground remains dire.
Earlier, during the weekly press briefing organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry, condemned the deliberate deprivation of the Palestinian people in Gaza, labeling the situation as catastrophic. He emphasized the urgent need for the international community to take decisive action against such atrocities.
Dr. Al Ansari shed light on the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where approximately 2.5 million people grapple with acute shortages of health and emergency services. Moreover, over one million individuals reside in makeshift shelters in the southern part of the strip. While the aid provided is crucial, it only begins to address the immense needs of the population.
Notably, delivering aid to Gaza is further complicated by limited and conditional access to the region. Dr. Al Ansari expressed deep concern over the dire conditions faced by the people of Gaza and urged the international community to intensify efforts to alleviate their suffering effectively.
