Amman: A total of 2,400 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Malaysians successfully entered Gaza early yesterday via the King Hussein Bridge crossing in Jordan. The delivery marks the first cross-border success by a Malaysian non-governmental organisation (NGO) since Israel closed all entry points to Palestine on March 2.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Karisma Humanitarian Aid Mission (KHOM) director Nik Marina Hussin stated that the aid was sent through a 60-truck convoy operated by the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) with support from the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Central Kitchen. The supplies, which include food boxes and infant formula funded by public donations, were transported on four trucks that joined the convoy coordinated by the JAF.

Nik Marina mentioned that the aid from KHOM had been stored in Jordan since February due to the closure but was immediately handed over to JAF once clearance was granted. The convoy has now reached Gaza, and KHOM’s aid is among the first to reach the residents in need. This breakthrough followed confirmation from Jordanian authorities on July 26 that KHOM’s aid had been approved for entry, marking it as the first Malaysian NGO to deliver external aid to Gaza in almost six months.

She expressed gratitude to Jordan’s King Abdullah II for issuing the Royal Decree that enabled the mission, and also thanked JAF, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), and other agencies for prioritising KHOM’s supplies in Jordan’s sixth aid mission to Gaza. Nik Marina highlighted the fragile state of the political truce in Gaza, noting the significant need for aid given the dire conditions, and reaffirmed KHOM’s commitment to continue its relief efforts with public support since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023.