Amman, Feb. 4 (Petra) — Qatar has launched an air bridge from Jordan to the Gaza Strip to address critical humanitarian and medical needs, supplementing the land bridge it had previously established. The initiative aims to provide essential medicines and medical supplies as Gaza faces severe shortages in its healthcare sector.
According to a statement by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), the air bridge was inaugurated in the presence of Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation Mariam bint Ali Al-Misnad, Qatari Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, JHCO Secretary-General Hussein Shibli, CEO of Qatar Charity Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, and representatives from the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent.
The initiative comes amid a worsening health crisis in Gaza, where hospitals and medical centers are struggling due to a 49.6% shortage of essential medicines and a 33% deficit in necessary medical supplies.
The JHCO statement highlighted that the ongoing crisis has placed significant strain on medical teams operating under challenging conditions.
As part of the effort, Al-Misnad attended the signing of an agreement between Qatar Charity and JHCO to facilitate the transport of Qatari humanitarian aid through Jordan. The agreement outlines coordinated efforts to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of medical and relief supplies to Gaza.
Al-Misnad stated that since the start of the truce, Qatar has delivered 65 trucks of aid through Jordan. In addition to the ongoing land bridge, two helicopter flights carrying critical medical supplies have been dispatched to northern Khan Younis. She noted that Qatar had provided 20,000 tents, which were transported by land from Qatar to Jordan, with plans to facilitate their entry into northern Gaza in coordination with JHCO.
Qatar Charity’s CEO emphasized that the organization, in partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent, has been tasked with overseeing the aid efforts. He noted that medical supplies are being delivered via the Jordanian air bridge, while land convoys are being dispatched through the Jordanian corridor. To enhance logistics, a 4,000-square-meter warehouse, including 1,000 square meters of refrigerated storage, has been secured in partnership with the Jordanian Armed Forces’ Military Consumer Corporation.
JHCO Secretary-General reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between Jordan and Qatar to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian aid. He stated that JHCO remains committed to facilitating the passage of aid and ensuring its organized distribution, particularly given the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He further stressed that JHCO will continue to provide logistical support and collaborate with humanitarian organizations to sustain the flow of aid, alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s residents, and improve their living and health conditions.
//Petra// RZ
04/02/2025 09:15:28
