The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has completed the airlift of the seventh tranche of humanitarian aid package for Gaza from Singapore to Jordan. Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad is in Amman, Jordan, to deliver the humanitarian aid package to Gaza via the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO). He was received by Brigadier General Pilot Hatem Al Khawaldeh, Director of Training of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, Brigadier General Jihad Al-Adwan, Director of Border Security of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Colonel Murad Al-Heare, Director Manager of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Dr Marwan Al Hennawy, Director of Programs and Planning of the JHCO at the King Abdullah I Air Base in Jordan earlier today.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)’s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) led efforts to coordinate and consolidate humanitarian aid from agencies, including the Ministry of Health (MOH) and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Relief SG, Mercy Relief and Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives of Singapore (CHARIS). The humanitarian aid package contains medical, food and hygiene supplies.  

Mr Zaqy said, “I would like to thank the servicemen and women of the SAF for providing support for this mission. They have displayed professionalism and commitment and represent a symbol of compassion from Singaporeans for the affected Palestinians in Gaza. I would like to thank our Jordanian counterparts for their strong support, which has allowed us to cooperate closely on the provision of humanitarian aid package to Gaza. Aside from delivering aid, we have also arrived in Amman with SAF Planners who will be on ground with me to assess the needs and the feasibility of other avenues of contribution to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, such as the deployment of medical teams. Over the next few days, we will be meeting with Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts to explore such opportunities.”  

As part of his visit, Mr Zaqy visited the JHCO warehouse to better understand the operations of the JHCO team, and how Singapore’s humanitarian aid package would be successfully delivered to Gaza. Mr Zaqy will also visit the JHCO Headquarters tomorrow, where he will meet with Dr Hussein Al-Shebli, Secretary General of the JHCO to discuss opportunities to provide further aid and support for affected Palestinians. 

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF are closely monitoring the developments following the multiphase ceasefire and hostage release agreement for Gaza, which has paved the way for increased delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. MINDEF/SAF is monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and assessing how to work with international partners and stakeholders to further support humanitarian assistance for Gaza.