Al-Asrak (dpa) Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented 1.8 tonnes of medical aid for the suffering population of Gaza during his visit to Jordan. The aid includes respirators for newborn infants, hospital beds, antibiotics, anticoagulants and pain relief medication. The aid was present to the Jordanian health service, which urgently requires the supplies for its two field hospitals in the Gaza Strip. “In partnership with Jordan, we are attempting to do what little we can together to ease the unending suffering of people in Gaza,” said Steinmeier while visiting the Al-Asrak air force base (photo). Germany plans to send around 18 tonnes of medical aid worth €1.5m.
However, there are doubts as to whether the supplies will reach the suffering population in the ruined Gaza Strip following Israel’s decision to ban the work of the United Nations’ UNRWA relief agency for Palestine. Israel alleged that some UNRWA staff have been involved in Hamas terrorist activities. For now the agency is continuing its work despite the ban.
According to Steinmeier, Israel’s decision did nothing to change the fact that people in Gaza urgently needed help. “Ways must be found to ensure help gets in regardless,” he said, adding that Germany’s collaboration with Jordan showed that such possibilities did exist.