Jordan, WFP discuss humanitarian assistance to Gaza

AMMAN — Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic and Expatriate Affairs Majid Qatarneh on Sunday discussed with World Food Programme’s (WFP) Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Carl Skau efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance into the war-hit Gaza Strip.

During the meeting, the two officials stressed the need for “unaltered and sustainable” flow of relief aid into Gaza, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

They also called for protecting civilians and respecting international law.

A convey of  46-trucks, organised by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) and the WFP, transported over 750 metric tonnes of life-saving food to Gaza on December 21 last year, marking the first direct aid convoy from Jordan to the strip since the outbreak of the Israeli war on the besieged enclave on October 7. 

The convoy entered Gaza through the Karam Abu Salem crossing via the King Hussein Bridge.

WFP stated that establishing a corridor through Jordan will increase the flow of aid and remove some pressure and congestion from the relief organisation.

“This will allow us to secure more supplies and have more trucks on the road,” said Samer Abdel Jaber, the WFP Palestine representative, country director, and emergency coordinator. “We are grateful to everyone who made this possible. This is a promising step that will hopefully grant us more sustained and scaled-up access to reach more people in Gaza, faster.”

WFP said that delivering food from Jordan will increase the volume and speed of food reaching the Gaza Strip, as millions face the risk of starvation. 

“This collaboration came following the recent Aqaba Process meeting, hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah, which called for the opening of additional border crossings and the use of the Kingdom as a base for aid entry into Gaza”, WFP said in its website.