humanitarian airdrop in Gaza

🇸🇬 Singapore executes first humanitarian airdrop in Gaza

Singapore successfully conducted its first humanitarian airdrop into Gaza, delivering vital supplies like meal packs and medical equipment.

21 March 2024

SINGAPORE: Singapore successfully conducted its first humanitarian airdrop into Gaza on Wednesday (20 March), delivering crates filled with vital food and essential items via parachutes into the enclave.

In a Facebook post update, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) announced the completion of its C-130 transport aircraft’s maiden humanitarian aid airdrop.

“The airdrop mission was closely coordinated with the Jordanian Air Force.”

“Every little bit counts; we hope these airdrop missions will bring some relief to the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the FB post wrote.

In a recent Facebook post, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen expressed hope that the humanitarian aid being delivered would provide much-needed relief to families in Gaza.

In another heartfelt message shared on Tuesday, he extended gratitude to the servicemen and women of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) who are actively involved in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“As they carry out airdrops over the coming days, support them strongly in your hearts, and prayers for mission success and safe return home, to their families and Singapore,” he wrote.

The comprehensive humanitarian package, meticulously crafted by the Singapore government in close collaboration with Jordan, is tailored to address the pressing needs on the ground in Gaza.

This package includes essential items such as meal packs, medical supplies, and equipment, as jointly announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Sunday.

This also marks Singapore’s third³ tranche of aid extended to civilians in Gaza.

Additionally, a generous donation of S$6.1 million, raised by the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation, has been contributed to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Singapore has joined hands with several nations in an earnest effort to airdrop critical aid to the famine-stricken enclave, particularly given the challenges faced by aid agencies in accessing the region via land routes.

The RSAF is conducting these vital airdrop operations from Jordan, in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, underscoring the spirit of international cooperation in times of crisis.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described the latest humanitarian aid package as “an expression of Singaporeans’ care, concern and compassion for Palestinians in Gaza”.

Dr Balakrishnan visited Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other officials.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Dr Balakrishnan conveyed Singapore’s deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate swift aid delivery, while also expressing to Israeli leaders that their actions in Gaza had “gone too far.”

He also extended Singapore’s sympathies to families affected by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, characterizing it as a “clear, flagrant, heinous act of terror” but also acknowledged the Israeli military response that ensued.

Singapore’s commitment to aiding Gaza began with the dispatch of its first tranche of aid on 11 November 2023.

On 30 November 2023, Singapore deployed an RSAF aircraft to deliver the second tranche to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border.

An RSAF Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) departed from Changi Air Base (East) carrying medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, blankets, sanitation items, water filters, and food from various agencies including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the SAF, and NGOs like the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and Relief Singapore.

Furthermore, on 19 January 2024, Singapore sent a medical team to Egypt to treat casualties from Gaza.

Notes 📝:

³ : Singapore announces third tranche of Gaza humanitarian aid via Jordan

15 March 2024

Singapore announces 3rd tranche of aid for Gaza via Jordan. PM Lee thanks Jordan’s King Abdullah II for facilitation and RSAF’s willingness to cooperate with Royal Jordanian Air Force for ongoing humanitarian efforts.

Singapore has announced its third tranche of humanitarian aid for Gaza, to be delivered through Jordan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Friday (15 Mar).

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan is set to visit Amman, Jordan, from Saturday (16 Mar) to Sunday (17 Mar) to oversee the delivery in collaboration with the Jordanian government.

This initiative was addressed by Dr Balakrishnan during a Parliamentary session on 29 February.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will contribute to the mission by deploying an A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and a C-130 transport aircraft, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Friday.

A team of 69 personnel departed from Changi Air Base (East) and Paya Lebar Air Base aboard the MRTT and C-130 respectively to support these operations.

The C-130 will remain in Jordan to conduct humanitarian airdrop operations, facilitated by the Jordanian Armed Forces, as per the invitation of the Jordanian government.

Efforts to coordinate and consolidate humanitarian aid supplies have been led by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC).

Contributions from various agencies including the SAF, Ministry of Health (MOH), and non-governmental organization Relief Singapore have been organized for this purpose, as confirmed by the MINDEF.

MFA emphasized that Dr Balakrishnan’s visit underscores Singapore’s enduring ties with Middle Eastern partners, enabling the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Accompanying Dr Balakrishnan on his visit is Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad and officials from MFA.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed appreciation to Jordan’s King Abdullah II for facilitating Singapore’s aid delivery to Gaza and highlighted the RSAF’s readiness to collaborate with the Royal Jordanian Air Force for further humanitarian efforts.

Mr Lee stressed the importance of international collaboration in alleviating the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming Singapore’s commitment to aiding civilians in the region.

He also commended King Abdullah’s active role in seeking a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for a negotiated two-state solution in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Singapore’s commitment to aiding Gaza began with the dispatch of its first tranche of aid on 11 November 2023. Second Minister Dr Maliki Osman handed over the aid to the Egyptian Red Crescent in Cairo.

On 30 November 2023, Singapore deployed an RSAF aircraft to deliver the second tranche to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border.

An RSAF Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) departed from Changi Air Base (East) carrying medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, blankets, sanitation items, water filters, and food from various agencies including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and NGOs like the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and Relief Singapore.