UAE Red Crescent to send food for Gaza flood victims – UNRWA press release

UAE Red Crescent to send food for Gaza flood victims

29 January 2009

Gaza

The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC) yesterday despatched to Gaza a convoy of sugar and flour worth 2 million dirhams (approximately $540,000), in an operation coordinated between the UAERC, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC).

The UAERC was responding to an urgent appeal by the UN Agency for food to ease the plight of the refugees of Gaza. Residents of the Strip are currently suffering from the effects of a long-term economic blockade, and more recently contended with floods which devastated parts of the region.

The first instalment of the 43-truck convoy left Cairo yesterday carrying hundreds of tons of flour and sugar. The remaining items will reach Gaza on Sunday.

UNRWA’s newly appointed Commissioner-General, Filippo Grandi, thanked the UAERC and the ERC, saying: “This latest donation exemplifies the consistent support which the UAERC regularly gives to our relief operations in Gaza and elsewhere. We appreciate deeply their concern for the people of Gaza, as we also appreciate the consistent readiness of the Egyptian Red Crescent to facilitate donations like this.”

This is the first donation received by UNRWA from the UAERC this year. In 2009, the UAERC contributed more than US$9 million in support of the Agency’s projects in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon.