UAE aid convoy bound for Gaza heads to Rafah crossing

Thirteen lorries carrying food parcels and tents will benefit more than 80,000 people

An Emirati aid convoy moves towards the Rafah crossing in preparation for its entry to Gaza. Wam

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A convoy of lorries carrying aid sent from the UAE has set off from Al Arish in Egypt for the Rafah crossing.

Ten lorries set off carrying 252 tonnes of the supplies bound for Gaza, including 16,800 food parcels that will benefit about 84,000 people.

Three other lorries are carrying tents into the strip.

Once the supplies reach Gaza they will be distributed under Emirati supervision as part of Operation Gallant Knight 3, a directive issued by President Sheikh Mohamed to provide humanitarian support to Gaza.

The UAE continues to send relief to Gaza amid the war with Israel and has so far sent 49 aircraft containing vital supplies.

Earlier this week, the UAE announced plans to build three desalination plants in Gaza.

Each will have a production capacity of 200,000 gallons a day, which will supply 300,000 people with drinking water when all three are operational.

The Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence said the plants are being built in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.