First humanitarian relief planeload for Gaza lands

8 January 2009

First humanitarian relief planeload for Gaza lands

A first planeload of humanitarian supplies for the people of Gaza has touched down in Egypt as part of a trade union relief operation.

An Airbus 310 organised and loaded by Jordan’s General Trade Union of Workers in Air Transport and Tourism, and the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation, which is headquartered in London) landed at Al-Areesh airport at 13.30 local time (11.30 GMT), containing three ambulances, medical supplies, food and water, for onward distribution in Gaza by the Red Crescent. The aircraft was made available free for the flight by Royal Jordanian Airlines.

Bilal Malkawi, ITF Representative for the Arab World, who was on the airplane – which he and Jordanian trade unionists helped load – reported: “Clearance has just been received for us to unload. Everything is going well and all supplies are on their way to Gaza now.”

He described the cargo: “We’ve collected what was most urgently requested by medics in Gaza. Mostly non-perishable items – examination tables, beds, wheelchairs, swabs, casts and splints for broken limbs. Plus bottled water, milk for babies, rice, wheat, and children's food.”

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft added: “We hope that this will be the first of several mercy flights carrying humanitarian supplies. Vital though these medical supplies are, they do not lessen in any way the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”

The international trade union movement, including the ITF, ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), and the Palestinian and Jordanian trade union congresses (PGFTU and GFJTU) have all backed a call for trade unions to sponsor humanitarian relief aid to Gaza.

ENDS

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