Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 July 2002
The Department of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce that the humanitarian aid flight to Palestine will depart on Sunday, 21 June 2002. The Israeli Authorities have finally granted permission for the flight to take place.
The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to thank all those who have been involved in assisting the Department with the delivery of a cargo of medicines, hospital equipment and food purchased from donations by the South African civil society for the Palestinian people. The Department has been working with its Missions in Ramallah and Tel Aviv, as well as with the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria, to ensure that all the correct procedures and protocols were followed in order to ensure that the donation reaches the Palestinian people.
The Department is happy that on Thursday, permission for the landing of the aircraft carrying the humanitarian aid to the Palestinians was given. The approval granted is for the aircraft to land at Ovda airport, south Israel.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aziz Pahad, symbolically handed over the R 4 million aid to Palestine during his recent visit to the region. Due to the delays in the Israeli approval of the aircraft to land, the Deputy Minister could not accompany the delivery of the much needed aid consignment to Palestine, during his recent visit to Palestine.
The Deputy Minister said, "There clearly is tragically a severe humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories unfolding as a result of the Israeli policies of collective punishment of innocent Palestinian civilians. The South African Government strongly believes that the humanitarian crisis developing in the occupied territories is further proof of the need for a rapid movement toward ending occupation of Palestine and Israeli expansion of its illegal settlement activities."
The Department would like to take this opportunity to thank 'Waqful al-Waqifin / Gift of the Givers' led by Dr Imtiaz Suliman for collection and dispatch of the humanitarian aid to Palestine. In this regard 'Waqful al-Waqifin / Gift of the Givers' approached the Department for assistance in facilitating delivery of donations collected from South African civil society for the Palestinian people.
The Department recommended that the 'Gift of the Givers' consult with other civil society organisations that had also expressed an interest in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestine.
The Department would also like to thank Air Logistics, led by Mr Fred Rutte as well as its Israeli Agent, QAS, for the outstanding logistical work in facilitating and transporting the humanitarian flight to Palestine. Their perseverance has finally borne fruits.
The South African Government and its people remain committed to its national values, particularly Ubuntu and Batho Pele. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also strongly committed to South Africa's value of Letsema/Volunteerism It is therefore appropriate for South Africa to assist the people of Palestine in this time of hardship, when the Israeli Defence Force is continuously invading the Palestinian Territories and destroying their infrastructure. The Palestinian economy has as a result, been deeply and severely affected by the invasions. The need for aid has reached new heights.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 9904853