Foreign Ministry: Slovakia Sends More Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip

Bratislava, 31 October (TASR) - Slovakia, in cooperation with Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, has sent three more shipments of material humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, once again taking an active part in international efforts to alleviate the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region, TASR was told by the Foreign Ministry's communications department on Friday. "Despite the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire. Since the beginning of the conflict, we've been condemning the suffering of innocent civilians and looking for ways to deliver life-saving aid in extremely difficult conditions. Once again, we've succeeded - thanks to national coordination with other ministries and subsequent cooperation with partners from Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates," stressed Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD). The Slovak Armed Forces cooperated with the United Arab Emirates on two shipments of material humanitarian aid. One of the shipments, containing basic foodstuffs weighing almost seven tonnes, was delivered to the Gaza Strip at the beginning of October. "Following the first delivery, a second consignment is currently in the process of being delivered by land as part of an operation called Chivalrous Knight. Almost a tonne of additional material aid, containing necessary medicines and blankets, will help to save lives and alleviate the suffering of the people," added Slovakia's chief diplomat. To deliver the third shipment, Slovakia is using the Cyprus maritime corridor under Operation Amalthea, which was established by Cyprus in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and other international partners for the purpose of transporting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by sea. am