According to Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, India has sent material for disaster relief as well as medical aid to the people of Palestine. The medical supplies include necessary medications that can save lives as well as surgical and protective equipment for handling urgent medical conditions. The care of the wounds was also taken into consideration when organizing the medical supplies.
Fluids and painkillers have been included in humanitarian aid for immediate relief. The disaster relief material weighing approximately 32 tons includes tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, basic sanitary utilities, water purification tablets etc.
An Indian Air Force C17 aircraft carrying the relief supplies departed from the Hindon airbase at 8 am in the morning. It is set to land at Egypt’s El-Arish airport by 3 pm (IST).
Taking to X, Arindam Bagchi stated, “India sends Humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine! An IAF C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine departs for El-Arish airport in Egypt. The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items.”
In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, India has sent humanitarian aid to Palestine. After Hamas launched a “surprise attack” against Israel on October 7, Israel launched a counteroffensive against the organization. Up to 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were finally permitted to cross the Egyptian border at Rafah on Saturday. However, the more than 2 million-person enclave has “far higher needs,” according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.