Jordan, UAE conduct new airdrop of aid over Gaza

Jordan Times

2 days ago

AMMAN — The Jordan Armed Forces–Arab Army (JAF) on Sunday carried out three airdrops of humanitarian and food aid over the Gaza Strip, including one conducted jointly with the UAE
The airdrops, delivered by C130 aircraft operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force and the UAE Air Force, transported a total of 25 tonnes of essential food items and humanitarian supplies, according to a JAF statement.
Targeting multiple locations across the besieged enclave, the operation is part of Jordan's humanitarian campaign to support the Palestinian people.
The mission was coordinated with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) and carried out in partnership with friendly and allied countries, as well as international humanitarian agencies, the statement said.
It aims to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis and assist residents in coping with the devastating consequences of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Airdrops serve as a vital supplement to Jordan's aid strategy, enabling rapid delivery of specialised assistance to areas that are otherwise inaccessible by land, the statement said.
Officials emphasised that aidrops are not a substitute for ground-based aid, which remains the primary and most effective channel for delivering large-scale humanitarian relief to Gaza.
Since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza on October 7, Jordan has dispatched 181 ground aid convoys, comprising 7,932 trucks, through joint efforts of JHCO, the World Food Programme, and the World Central Kitchen.
To date, the JAF has conducted 127 airdrops independently, in addition to 267 coordinated airdrops in cooperation with regional and international partners.
Jordan's field hospitals also continue to provide critical medical care in both northern and southern Gaza.
Medical teams at these hospitals, as well as at the Jordanian field hospital in Nablus and surgical stations in Jenin and Ramallah, are offering services across various specialities.
The field hospital in Northern Gaza has treated over 120,588 patients, while the southern facility has provided care to more than 362,389 individuals.
Together, the hospitals have performed over 36,000 surgeries and fitted 532 upper and lower prosthetic limbs as part of the "Hope Restoration" initiative.
Additionally, 112 injured and sick children, along with 241 accompanying family members, have been evacuated from Gaza for treatment in Jordan under the 'Medical Corridor' initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah.
The initiative aims to treat 2,000 sick and wounded children from Gaza in Jordanian hospitals, the statement said.