Since Oct 7, 2023, the Singapore authorities and native non-governmental organisations have labored with Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus to ship about S$18 million price of donations for Gaza.
Singapore delivered its fourth trance of aid for Gaza in July. The third tranche in March included an aid airdrop into Gaza.
Dr Balakrishnan thanked companions within the Center East for his or her assist in facilitating Singapore’s humanitarian help to Gaza.
“We labored very intently, first with Egypt and Jordan for the primary three tranches of our assist. For the fourth tranche, we labored intently with the UAE and Cyprus,” he famous.
“We’re very grateful for our longstanding associates who’ve enabled us to do that and to specific the compassion of Singaporeans.”
NEED TO PROTECT AID WORKERS
Dr Balakrishnan additionally expressed concern over Israel’s choice to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from working in Israel and annexed east Jerusalem.
Israel strictly controls all humanitarian assist shipments to Gaza.
UNRWA has offered important assist and different help throughout the Palestinian territories and to Palestinian refugees elsewhere for greater than seven a long time.
“Singapore expresses our deep concern on the latest passage of laws within the Israeli Knesset which, in our view, would hamper or hinder the important work of UN companies in offering reduction to the folks in Gaza and past,” Dr Balakrishnan stated.
Companies like UNRWA and UNICEF play an important function in offering life-saving assist in Gaza, he famous, including: “We urge all events to stick to worldwide regulation together with ensuring that we respect and defend the person officers of those companies, a few of whom have in actual fact been casualties.”
MFA stated Singapore stays dedicated to providing humanitarian assist to affected populations in Gaza.
“We reiterate our name for an instantaneous humanitarian ceasefire, in addition to the unconditional, speedy and secure launch of all hostages,” it added.
“We additionally urge all events to permit for the pressing, secure and unhindered provision of humanitarian assist to affected civilians in Gaza.”
