SINGAPORE, June 12 — Singapore will continue exploring opportunities to deliver humanitarian aid for Gaza and work with its partners to ensure the efficient and timely distribution of aid to those in need, said the republic’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi.
To date, the Singapore government has worked with Egypt and Jordan to deliver three tranches of humanitarian aid to affected civilians in Gaza, while Singaporeans donated generously to fund-raising drives by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with over S$15.5 million (RM54 million) raised so far.
“In March 2024, we deployed a C-130 aircraft at the invitation of the Jordanian government, to airdrop more than 20 tonnes of food supplies, or about 60,000 meals, into Gaza over two weeks.
“We also deployed a medical team on board the French Armed Forces’ FS Dixmude in January 2024 to help treat Palestinian casualties,” he said in a submitted statement at the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza conference in Jordan yesterday.
The statement was shared by the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) today.
The conference, co-hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres, sought to address the critical humanitarian needs arising from the ongoing crisis in Gaza and how the international community could support relief efforts.
Hawazi noted NGOs such as the Singapore Red Cross and Mercy Relief are also working on plans to deliver much-needed food and medical supplies and assist ongoing relief operations.
Meanwhile, Singapore reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire and for all parties to allow for the urgent, safe, and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians.
“We also continue to call for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of all hostages. We hope for an end to the humanitarian suffering that has gone on for too long,” he added.
Hawazi said Singapore emphasised its support for a negotiated two-state solution consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, stating this is the only viable path for achieving a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
MFA in a separate statement said Hawazi met Palestinian Authority Health Minister Dr Maged Abu Ramadan, Social Development Minister Samah Abuoun Hamad, and State of Relief Affairs Minister Basel Nasser on the sidelines of the conference.
Hawazi underscored Singapore’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian Authority’s capacity-building efforts in fields such as healthcare, education, and public administration, with over 750 of the latter’s officials having benefited from training programmes and postgraduate scholarships provided by Singapore thus far.
— Bernama
