KUWAIT: Kuwaiti charity societies continue to rally up efforts to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza as the Zionist occupation aggression left thousands of casualties and a large number of families with no homes or provisions. The latest data showed that Zionist occupation airstrikes, since October 7, have killed more than 4,600 people and injured over 14,000, while residential areas and infrastructure were left in rubble.

Al-Salam Charity Chief, Dhari Al-Beijan, told KUNA that since its establishment, the charity has focused its work on central Asia, but due to the continuing tragic events in Gaza, Al-Salam Charity has redirected its efforts. The charity, affirmed Al-Beijan, is in contact with official organizations in Palestine approved by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver urgent aid to the people of Gaza. In the first phase, the charity had allocated $100,000 for food, medical necessities, and provisions for refugee centers, stated Al-Beijan, saying that this has been facilitated by the Foreign Ministry and the Social Affairs Ministry.

As for Najat Charity’s Abdullah Al-Shehab, he told KUNA that over 34,000 people benefited from the urgent aid sent by the charity as part of the “For Palestine” campaign launched towards the beginning of escalation. Al-Shehab mentioned that they are preparing to send new batches of assistance, as they have also launched another campaign for the sponsorship of 1,000 orphans. Tanmeia Charity official Musab Al-Otaibi told KUNA that the Gaza Strip is in dire need of necessary provisions as the people are suffering from severe shortages and the collapse of the health system.

He affirmed that despite tough conditions and obstacles in delivering aid, Tanmeia Charity would continue to send support to Palestinians. Kuwaiti Relief Air Bridge launched on Monday with its first planeload and will continue to do so on a daily basis this current week. The planeloads, consisting of urgent supplies and medical necessities, are heading to the Gaza Strip through the Al-Arish area in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

15 trucks head to Gaza

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Red Crescent announced on Sunday that a second batch of aid convoys, including 15 trucks carrying quantities of medical supplies and humanitarian and food aid, were heading to the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the head of the Egyptian Red Crescent in the North Sinai, Dr. Khaled Zayid, said that the Red Crescent delivered to its Palestinian counterpart the first aid convoys, which included 20 trucks containing medical supplies, medicines, and food. Zayid added that all aid received by the Rafah crossing is delivered to the Palestinian Red Crescent crews and, in turn, to the people of the Gaza Strip and is distributed according to the lists determined by the Emergency Committee in the Strip. In a related development, the Egyptian Red Crescent announced the arrival of a humanitarian aid plane from India to the Egyptian Rafah crossing, carrying medical and food supplies to be provided to civilians in Gaza. — KUNA