As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to support the Palestinian people, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center large quantities of food baskets to affected families in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Monday. This initiative comes as an urgent response to the dire conditions faced by the camp’s residents, who have suffered widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes, forcing thousands of families to live in tents lacking even the most basic necessities.
This aid is of paramount strategic and humanitarian importance, given that northern Gaza, particularly the Jabalia refugee camp, suffers from severe isolation and significant logistical difficulties in delivering supplies compared to the southern areas. The arrival of the center's teams in these high-risk areas is a humanitarian achievement that reflects the Kingdom's commitment to reaching the most vulnerable groups, regardless of the challenges on the ground, as part of the Saudi popular campaign to aid the brotherly Palestinian people.
Access challenges and disaster areas
The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, the King Salman Center's implementing partner in the sector, oversaw the field distribution process, employing a precise mechanism to ensure food reached those in need. Relief teams faced immense challenges, including the complete destruction of roads and ongoing security risks, but operations continued to alleviate the severe hunger threatening the northern population.
The beneficiary families in the camp expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, stressing that these food baskets came at a very critical time, as the markets are suffering from a complete shortage of basic materials, which made these aids a real lifeline that alleviates the harshness of daily suffering.
Air and sea bridge and airdrops
The Kingdom's efforts are not limited to on-the-ground distribution; it has also mobilized all its logistical capabilities through a massive air and sea bridge. To date, 77 relief aircraft and 8 giant ships have transported over 7,699 tons of food, medical supplies, and shelter materials. Additionally, 912 relief trucks have crossed into the Gaza Strip, carrying tons of aid and fully equipped ambulances, 20 of which were delivered to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to support the dilapidated health sector.
In the context of diversifying access routes, the King Salman Relief Center resorted to carrying out "airdrop" operations for quality aid in cooperation and partnership with the Jordanian Armed Forces, in order to overcome the closure of land crossings and ensure the delivery of food to those besieged in areas that are difficult to reach by land.
International partnerships and a firm stance
In addition to direct intervention, the center signed strategic agreements with UN and international organizations to implement relief projects in Gaza worth over US$90 million. These integrated efforts reaffirm the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s historical and unwavering stance in supporting Arab causes and standing with the Palestinian people during various crises, thus embodying its global humanitarian mission and noble values of extending a helping hand to those affected around the world.
