Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (second from left) handing over the humanitarian package to UAE charge d’affaires Dhabia Al Mehairbi (second from right) on July 22. - BERITA HARIAN
SINGAPORE: To help with food insecurity in Gaza, Singapore is sending 1,000 tonnes of white rice and 300 tonnes of canned sardines in what is the Republic’s fourth tranche of aid to the war-torn strip over nine months.
Singapore has contributed more than S$17 million in donations so far in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Marking the supply handover on July 22, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: “The conflict in Gaza is now into its ninth month. Singaporeans are deeply distressed and grieved over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“The suffering, which we are all aware of and have seen, is deeply heart-wrenching.”
Singapore sent its first tranche of aid to Gaza in November 2023, consisting of medical supplies and food provisions. In the same month, the Government deployed a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft to deliver about 10 tonnes of supplies to civilians there.
In March, two RSAF aircraft and 69 personnel flew to Gaza and delivered more than 20 tonnes of food supplies, equivalent to over 59,000 meals.
The rice and sardines in this delivery will be shipped from Singapore to Cyprus, and then to Gaza.
On July 22, Dr Balakrishnan met with Singapore’s representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi, charge d’affaires at the United Arab Emirates embassy in Singapore Dhabia Al Mehairbi, and honorary consul of the Republic of Cyprus in Singapore Raja Bose.
Dr Balakrishnan said this latest delivery of aid represents Singapore’s continued and steadfast commitment to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.
“We hope a ceasefire deal can be reached - this will allow all hostages to be released and for humanitarian assistance to reach all affected civilians,” he added.
“In the longer term, a comprehensive, just, and durable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be found.
“Singapore’s longstanding position on the issue of Israeli settlements has been clear and consistent. We view Israel’s settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law.”
These settlements make it much harder to arrive at a negotiated two-state solution, he added.
Singapore has consistently voted in support of UN General Assembly resolutions that reject Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and in favour of the resolutions that call on Israel to rescind all unilateral measures to change the status of Jerusalem.
Dr Balakrishnan had mentioned in Parliament on July 2 that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a longstanding one and Singapore’s principled position is that both sides need to find the political will to resume negotiations with the support of the international community in order to make progress towards a two-state solution.
In the meantime, Singapore remains committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, he added.
“We will continue to find practical ways in which Singapore can continue to help our Palestinian friends in these most difficult times.” - The Straits Times/ANN
