Amman (UNA) – In the presence of the Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, Ambassador Berik Arin, the organization sent the first convoy from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Gaza within the “Flour for Humanity Program – Gaza Emergency Appeal”.
The dispatch of the convoy from the warehouse of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization in Al-Ghabawi, Zarqa, was witnessed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Jordan, Ambassador Talat Shaldanbay.
The convoy consisted of 12 trucks loaded with 200 tons of first-class wheat flour, aiming to address the severe food shortage in Gaza.
Ambassador Beric Arin expressed his deep gratitude to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, UN partners and donor OIC Member States, emphasizing the Islamic Organization for Food Security’s commitment to the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence. He also stressed that all donations go directly to cover procurement and logistics expenses on the ground, without any administrative or operational deductions.
After an inspection tour of the Authority’s warehouses, Ambassador Berik Erin briefed Ambassador Talat Şaldanbay on the facilities, and the visit concluded with a ceremonial loading of trucks heading to Gaza.
During the ceremony, representatives of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization praised the ongoing efforts to establish a sustainable aid corridor through Jordan, in light of the restrictions imposed on the Egyptian route, which led to the disruption of large-scale deliveries to Gaza before the ceasefire.
This shipment is the first direct humanitarian initiative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Palestinian territories, and the first convoy bearing its official mark, in addition to the generous contributions from Red Crescent Societies, NGOs and bilateral aid agencies in Islamic countries.
Coordination will be made with the UN World Food Programme and other UN agencies to ensure the safe distribution of food assistance to some 8000 families, thus alleviating the severe food security crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The event coincided with a temporary ceasefire agreement in Gaza, after 465 days of hostilities that killed more than 46,000 people, caused massive destruction to infrastructure, and displaced millions amid harsh winter conditions. Children under five are among the most affected, facing the risk of severe malnutrition. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) estimates, by the end of 2024, 1.84 million people in Gaza are hungry, with some 133,000 people facing imminent famine. In addition, 96% of the population – more than 2.15 million people – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity as of September 2024, with the area classified as Phase 495,000 (Emergency), with XNUMX people in Phase XNUMX (Catastrophe), reflecting extreme levels of hunger and a lack of coping capacity.
As the host country of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, the Republic of Kazakhstan has played a key role in supporting this initiative, with its unwavering support and active leadership having a significant impact in enabling the organization’s humanitarian activities, including the “Flour for Humanity” programme, reflecting its deep commitment to addressing food insecurity and humanitarian crises globally.
Since October 2023, the Israeli occupation's intensive attacks on the Gaza Strip have led to widespread destruction, the displacement of millions, and the destruction of vital infrastructure, including homes and hospitals.
The extraordinary joint Arab and Islamic summit, held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, stressed the urgent need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to avoid a worsening of the food security crisis.
In accordance with the Statute of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, particularly subparagraphs (i) and (j) of Article 4, the Organization responded to this crisis by participating in humanitarian programmes at the request of the OIC and establishing regional mechanisms to provide emergency assistance to Member States.
In early 2024, the Islamic Organization for Food Security launched an emergency appeal to address the severe hunger crisis in Gaza, through the “Flour for Humanity” program, in response to the urgent appeal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The program aims to provide 1000 tons of wheat flour to the Gaza Strip.
The first phase, implemented in partnership with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, saw the provision of 200 tons of subsidized wheat flour (equivalent to 8000 packages) thanks to generous contributions from several member states, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Azerbaijan.
The Authority's initiatives cover food aid, winter preparations, medical support, and shelter for those affected by the conflict.
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