West bank: The Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced the launch of a major logistical operation to transport vital medical supplies from its central warehouses in the West Bank to the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Abu Salem crossing.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, this step comes in response to repeated warnings over the depletion of medicines and medical supplies needed to keep field hospitals and clinics operating in the Gaza Strip. The Society confirmed that the convoy is the result of intensive coordination efforts that have been ongoing for several months with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Five trucks carrying 111 pallets containing 3,284,684 units of medicines and medical solutions have already departed. The operation will continue with the loading of four more trucks carrying 83 pallets of medicines funded by the European Union and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, stored in World Health Organization warehouses, making the total convoy 194 pallets loaded onto nine large trucks.
The association stated that the medical supplies were procured with support from international partners, including the European Union (ECHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Arab Red Crescent Movement (ARCO), and the National Red Cross Societies of Spain, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, in cooperation with the Palestinian American Medical Society (PAMA) to support the treatment of skin diseases.
The association highlighted that the arrival of this aid is essential to ensuring the continuity of emergency health services provided to citizens amidst the challenging circumstances facing the health sector.