A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III carries more than 54,000 pounds of vitally needed medical supplies, warm clothing, food and nutrition assistance to the people of Gaza from undisclosed locations throughout the Middle East, Nov. 28, 2023. (Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Jasmonet Holmes)
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The US transported more than 54,000 pounds of UN humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza that included “vitally needed” medical supplies, warm clothing, food and nutrition. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a press conference the supplies were transported on Tuesday via Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft and arrived in Al-Arish, Egypt, where they will be transported via ground transportation to Gaza and distributed by U.N. agencies. Ryder said the Department of Defense transported the supplies at the request of U.S. Agency for International Development. The US is by far the largest donor to the U.N.’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, according to USAID. The US is planning additional flights in the coming days that is in addition to the more than 500,000 pounds of food assistance delivered by the US last week alone.
The flight included medical supplies to support the health system in Gaza and ready-to-use foods for the displaced populations, both adults and children. “With 1.7 million people internally displaced and 2.2 million in need of humanitarian assistance, increased humanitarian supplies are essential to saving lives and alleviating suffering for the most vulnerable,” USAID said in a statement. The US has mobilized $100 million in humanitarian assistance to help civilians affected by the conflict.
“We are grateful for the additional contributions from a number of donor partners who have already pledged significant funding, and we continue to advocate for others to do the same,” USAID said. The agency also noted in its statement that the UN’s global appeal in response to the crisis remains “woefully underfunded”, with only 21 percent funded. USAID is calling on the international community to urgently step up their support and deliver on commitments pledged.
