By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN - The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) on Tuesday said they will launch a humanitarian aid convoy of 10 trucks loaded with medical and food aid supplies to the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.

The organisation's plan is fuelled by sweeping enthusiasm at the national level and a highly positive response from people to a call for in-kind and cash donations to Palestinians in the besieged enclave, which has been under daily Israeli attacks since Saturday, JHCO Spokesperson Mohammad Kilani told The Jordan Times yesterday.

"No sooner had the door been opened for donations for the besieged Palestinians in Gaza, than in-kind and cash donations poured in from citizens, public and private institutions and civil society institutions," Kilani said.

Over the past two days the organisation has received hundreds of phone calls from citizens, private companies, labour parties and professional associations interested in taking part in the humanitarian effort, Kilani said.

The first convoy of 16 trucks arrived in Gaza on Monday carrying medical and food packages, in addition to some 1,000 blood units donated by Jordanians.

Kilani said JHCO, as the sole entity allowed to transport relief assistance into Palestine, coordinates with concerned parties in order to ensure safe passage of aid convoys, adding that assistance is delivered to UNRWA, which takes over and distributes the aid.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is proceeding with a fundraising campaign, collecting so far JD100,000, according to Kilani who pointed out that the funds are used by the organisation to purchase foodstuff and medicines urgently needed by Palestinians.

Medical teams

Meanwhile, Jordan Medical Association (JMA) President Zuheir Abu Fares told The Jordan Times that the association is coordinating with JHCO in order to send medical teams to Gaza to assist in treating the wounded.

"Today [Tuesday] I met with JHCO Director Mohammad Aitan, who showed interest in our initiative and asked us to provide him with the list of volunteering doctors," Abu Fares said, adding that, in parallel to this step, the JMA and other professional associations have called on their members to donate for Gazans.

He added that the JMA is preparing a shipment of medical and humanitarian assistance, adding that the items were purchased with guidance from JHCO, which provided the doctors’ syndicate with a list of items most urgently needed by Palestinians.

Moreover, Hikma Pharmaceuticals Director of Corporate Communications Hana Ramadan told The Jordan Times yesterday that the company donated a quarter million dinars worth of medical assistance for the Palestinians.

"This is the least we can do for our brothers in Gaza who are going through terrible conditions," Ramadan said, adding that the donated shipment, which included antibiotics and intravenous drugs, was delivered yesterday to the JHCO which will take care of sending the donations to Gaza.

Jordanian tribes have also contributed to the nationwide efforts with new ideas. The Circassian Hakouz family will organise a blood donation campaign from 3:00-8:00pm at the family’s diwan in Wadi Seer, according to Luai Hakouz, an activist who is helping in the effort. “This is the least we can do for our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said, adding that the move is coordinated with the National Blood Bank.

The Ministry of Social Development, for its part, launched a humanitarian aid campaign among all charity societies in the Kingdom, Amman Social Development Director Mohammad Ebdah said yesterday.

"We have made contacts with all 1,400 charity societies which have shown great enthusiasm in the campaign in order to encourage their members to donate for the Gazan residents. The ministry will take care of the packaging of the donated items and send them to JHCO," Ebdah said.

For their part, the Jordan Chambers of Industry and Commerce, during a meeting yesterday, decided to launch an in-kind and fundraising campaign.

Meanwhile, UNRWA Spokesperson Sami Mshasha said a total of 32 trucks loaded with medical and food assistance, 12 of which are from the JHCO, were due to head for Gaza on Tuesday after the international institution received guarantees over the safety of the convoy and the accompanying teams.