Arish– The United Arab Emirates delivered its largest aid shipment yet to Gaza on Friday, with a ship carrying 5,340 tons of food and shelter materials arriving at Al-Arish Port in Egypt.
The event, held on a bustling Friday, was announced by the North Sinai Governorate and attended by key officials including Major General Khaled Megawer, Governor of North Sinai; Rashid Al-Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent; Sultan Al-Kaabi, spokesperson for relief affairs in Operation “Gallant Knight 3”; and Ahmed Mubarak, Medical Director of the floating UAE hospital in Al-Arish.
Upon the ship’s arrival, Megawer emphasized the strategic importance of North Sinai as a central hub for receiving humanitarian, food, and relief aid destined for Gaza. He elaborated on the robust logistics network that includes land, air, and sea channels, enabling the governorate to handle hundreds of thousands of tons of aid in recent months.
He expressed profound appreciation for the UAE’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, lauding diverse relief initiatives ranging from immediate humanitarian assistance to long-term healthcare solutions. He highlighted the field hospital in Gaza and the floating hospital at Al-Arish Port as testaments to the UAE’s commitment to humanitarian causes.
Al-Mansouri provided insights into the logistical journey of the aid ship, which departed from Fujairah Port two weeks earlier. This vessel, the fourth to reach Al-Arish Port under Operation “Gallant Knight 3,” carried 5,340 tons of humanitarian materials, including 4,750 tons of food supplies and 590 tons of shelter materials, transported by 313 trucks. The operation is a joint effort among the Emirates Red Crescent, the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.
Al-Kaabi emphasized the strategic directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and outlined the broader mission to provide sustained support to the Palestinian people in Gaza. Al-Kaabi elaborated on various projects under the operation, including the establishment of two field hospitals—one in Gaza and the other as a floating facility in Al-Arish. These hospitals are crucial for delivering timely medical care. Additionally, five automatic bakeries have been constructed, and flour supplied to eight existing bakeries in Gaza ensures a steady supply of essential food items.
Further enhancing Gaza’s infrastructure, six desalination plants have been established, producing 1.2 million gallons of water daily, significantly improving water access for over 600,000 residents. Al-Kaabi also highlighted the “Birds of Goodness” operation by the Joint Operations Command, involving airdropping humanitarian aid to isolated areas in northern Gaza. To date, 3,800 tons of relief aid have been delivered through this method.
Mohamed Sherif, Director of Al-Arish Port, provided an overview of the port’s role since the onset of the Gaza crisis, noting that the port has received 20 aid ships from various Arab and foreign countries, collectively carrying 34,505 tons of relief and humanitarian aid.
During the visit to Al-Arish Port, the governor and his entourage visited injured Palestinians receiving treatment at the floating UAE hospital. Ahmed Mubarak reported that 42 Palestinians are currently receiving treatment, accompanied by 60 family members. The hospital’s extensive services include 2,800 medical consultations, 1,000 surgeries, and the fitting of two prosthetic limbs, supported by a dedicated team of 65 medical professionals.
