Singapore to commence aid airdrops into Gaza; reiterates call for immediate humanitarian ceasefire

SINGAPORE: Singapore's third tranche of humanitarian assistance for Gaza has arrived in Jordan, with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) set to begin airdrops soon. 

The humanitarian package includes meal packs, medical supplies and equipment. 

It was put together by Singapore's government in close consultation with Jordan and "based on the needs on the ground in Gaza", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Sunday (Mar 17). 

Singapore joins several countries in efforts to airdrop much-needed aid to the hunger-stricken enclave, as aid agencies face obstacles via land routes.

The RSAF will conduct the airdrop operations out of Jordan, together with the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

"Singapore continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and urges all parties to allow for the immediate, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to affected civilians in Gaza," said MFA and MINDEF. 

They added that Singapore will continue to work closely with its partners in the Middle East and local humanitarian groups to offer additional assistance and support to affected communities.

The war began on Oct 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel said it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members in the Gaza fighting. 

MFA said last Friday that an RSAF C-130 transport aircraft will conduct humanitarian airdrop operations. An A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has also been deployed for the mission.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan called the latest humanitarian aid package “an expression of Singaporeans’ care, concern and compassion for Palestinians in Gaza”.

The minister, who visited Amman over the weekend alongside Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, also thanked Jordan for facilitating the delivery of aid. 

“We are deeply grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah II Al Hussein and the government of Jordan for facilitating Singapore’s humanitarian aid for Gaza, and for inviting Singapore to conduct humanitarian airdrop operations of urgently needed supplies,” Dr Balakrishnan said.

Dr Balakrishnan met Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi on Saturday.

They spoke about two weeks ago about the dire situation in Gaza and how Singapore and Jordan can work together to provide aid, he added.

Mr Zaqy said the SAF will continue to bring in supplies, expressing his hope that "this gesture of compassion, especially during the month of Ramadan, will bring not just relief but also hope to the people of Gaza that are affected by the war". 

"This whole of government effort includes ground-up support from Singaporeans for those affected in Gaza," he added. 

On the aid delivery timeline, Mr Zaqy said the exact schedules could not be revealed "due to operational security" but stressed that "all the aid will be coming through and delivered directly into Gaza through the airdrop".

"We are also expecting another tranche of aid to come sometime in the next few days," he added.

Dr Balakrishnan and Mr Zaqy also had an audience with King Abdullah II Al Hussein on Sunday, with Crown Prince Al Hussein Abdullah II in attendance. 

MFA said in a statement that Dr Balakrishnan conveyed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s appreciation for Jordan's facilitation of Singapore’s humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

He expressed Singapore's continued support for King Abdullah II’s leadership role in "promoting peace and stability in the region including efforts to achieve a two-state solution to resolve the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict".

FAMINE WORRIES IN GAZA

The United Nations has warned that famine looms in Gaza after efforts to draw a truce between Israel and Hamas before Ramadan failed to bear fruit. 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave. 

Delays and obstacles at land crossings have prompted countries to pursue other options for aid delivery, including airdrops and a maritime route from Cyprus.

A shipping aid corridor from Cyprus has been set up to at least address shortages in Gaza in part.

The first vessel to Gaza successfully delivered its cargo on Saturday and is expected to return to Cyprus on Sunday. 

Cyprus has said a second aid ship - The Jennifer - is ready to leave for Gaza with 240 tonnes of food. 

US troops are also on a mission to build a temporary port on Gaza's coast for urgently needed aid deliveries.

Israel last Thursday defended its policies on admitting trucks into Gaza, calling on the United Nations to send more convoys of aid to the war-ravaged territory.