Cairo: Egypt sent its 88th "Zad Al-Izza" humanitarian convoy to the Gaza Strip, carrying more than 9,250 tons of urgent aid to the Palestinian population.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the convoy carries over 4,400 tons of food baskets and flour, 3,700 tons of medical and relief supplies, and 1,150 tons of fuel. The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), which is the national coordination body for aid delivery to Gaza, confirmed these details.

The convoy also includes essential winter items, such as more than 71,200 blankets, 50,600 winter clothing items, 17,900 tents, and 780 mattresses, aimed at easing the suffering of Gaza residents amid worsening winter conditions.

The dispatch occurs amidst ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, which violate the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt, the US, Qatar, and Turkey in October. Since 7 October 2023, Egypt, in collaboration with the UN and other international partners, has spearheaded aid efforts to Gaza, delivering hundreds of thousands of tons through the Rafah and Karm Abu Salem crossings, despite the ongoing Israeli blockade.

Egypt has successfully delivered more than 45,000 trucks carrying over 660,000 tons of humanitarian supplies, accounting for about 70 percent of all aid entering the strip. This makes Egypt a vital lifeline for Gaza since the onset of the Israeli conflict.

However, more than 600,000 Palestinians face severe hunger, with hundreds already dying from starvation or malnutrition, according to Gaza health authorities. Israeli airstrikes, food scarcity, winter storms, and widespread displacement have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, particularly in northern Gaza.

On 22 August, the UN declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such occurrence in the Middle East. The ERC launched the Zad Al-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza initiative on 27 July as part of Cairo's ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The initiative has delivered thousands of tons of food, water, medicines, medical equipment, relief supplies, hygiene kits, shelter materials, baby formula and diapers, as well as ambulances and fuel trucks to the war-ravaged territory.