Asia's First Aid Convoy to Leave for Gaza

Friday December 03, 2010 18:50 by Alessandra Bajec - IMEMC & Agencies

Asia's first humanitarian convoy is due to begin its journey to the Gaza Strip, trying to break Israel's siege, Press TV reported.

(photo from www.google.com)

A convoy of activists bound for Gaza is set to leave from India to deliver medical aid to the coastal enclave.

The India Lifeline To Gaza, part of the Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine (APSP), will head off from Rajghat, in Delhi, then travel through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, to finally enter Gaza through Rafah.

Over 50 Indians are estimated to be part of the ground journey and get to the Strip by December 28. Among the activists are veteran journalist Kuldip Nayyar and former cabinet secretary Zafar Saifullah.

The convoy will deliver medical supplies and donate two ambulances to the Palestinian authorities.

Earlier this week, the United Nations denounced that more than 80% of Gazans depend on relief supplies for their survival.

The Israel-imposed embargo persists since June 2007. Gaza is far from recovering from the December 2008 Israeli attack, which resulted in over 1,400 Palestinians killed and a damage of more than $1.6 billion on the coastal strip's economy.

international | gaza siege | news report alessandra.bajec at gmail dot com