Plane sent by UAE full of winter clothing for Palestinians arrives in Al Arish

Aid package includes thousands of items to help those in need through the harsh winter period

A plane sent by the UAE carrying thousands of items of winter clothing for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip arrived at Al Arish airport in Egypt on Tuesday night.

The aid packages, which include jackets and other warm clothing, will be sent on through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing, along with shelter tents, to help alleviate the suffering of embattled Palestinians struggling with the continued conflict and harsh winter conditions.

A senior figure from Emirates Red Crescent told The National that further shipments of winter clothing would also be sent to Gaza as part of the UAE's Gallant Knight 3 operation, adding that final preparations for convoys carrying the items had been completed.

“[We will be sending] more jackets and warm clothes to our brothers in Gaza to brave the harsh winter months,” said Ali Ahmed Al Muheiri. “It will be distributed through sheltering centres, hospitals and medical clinics in Gaza.”

Desperate families in Gaza are repurposing blankets and other fabrics into warm clothes for their children, as they brace for cold weather while being forcibly evicted repeatedly during the continuing war.

The UAE has sent dozens of aid flights carrying thousands of tonnes of essential supplies to support Gaza. Earlier this month it was reported by the German Press Agency (dpa) that the Emirates had contributed 42 per cent of the total aid sent to Gaza since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas in October last year, topping the list of donor countries. The UAE's aid contributions were valued at $828 million.

The Emirates was among the first countries to respond to the crisis in Gaza, with President Sheikh Mohamed launching the Gallant Knight operation to send vital aid by land, air and sea. Since it began operations in December last year, the UAE Field Hospital in the Gaza Strip has treated more than 50,000 patients.

A floating hospital anchored in Al Arish Port in Egypt has treated more than 7,500 patients since it was launched in February. The Emirates has established two other hospitals, including one with a centre dedicated to providing prosthetic limbs for Palestinians injured in the war.