Oman sends 22 trucks of winter aid to Gaza

MUSCAT: As many as 22 trucks carrying essential supplies for people in Gaza affected by extreme winter conditions and floods are set to leave Oman on Sunday, the Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) announced.
The trucks, bearing the Omani flag, are part of a land bridge initiative to transport thousands of tents donated by the Sultanate of Oman to the people of Gaza. Officials from OCO confirmed that the convoy is scheduled to depart for the Rafah crossing at the Egypt-Gaza border on Sunday.
“We at the Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) announced last week the readiness of the land bridge to transport thousands of tents to the Gaza Strip, and we are all set to begin the journey on Sunday,” said Badr bin Mohammed al Zaabi, Acting CEO of OCO. He confirmed that the aid is expected to reach Gaza within three days.
Al Zaabi added that the organisation is directly overseeing the manufacturing, loading, and transportation of the supplies to ensure they reach the intended recipients with maximum accuracy and monitoring.
The Egypt-Gaza border, approximately 12 kilometres long, is the closest and most viable entry point for aid, as other major Egyptian routes to Gaza are significantly longer.
“These efforts reflect the Sultanate of Oman’s humanitarian mission and steadfast commitment to providing relief to those affected. We continue to strengthen our relief and humanitarian support to the people of Gaza during these exceptional circumstances,” Al Zaabi said.
Oman has been providing humanitarian financial aid to Gaza through international bodies such as Unicef and UNRWA, as well as directly via the OCO. The organisation’s Jood Donation Portal also allows the public to contribute, supporting Palestinian orphans and other forms of assistance.