Pakistan’s 21st consignment of relief items for Gaza, Lebanon and Syria arrives in Damascus

This handout photo released by Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on November 28, 2024, shows Ambassador of Pakistan in Syria, Air Marshal (R) Shahid Akhtar (third left), along with other officials, posing for a group photo while receiving the 21st humanitarian aid consignment in Damascus, Syria. (NDMA)
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  • Pakistan dispatched 17 tons of relief items such as blankets, food and medicines on Wednesday
  • Islamabad has repeatedly demanded an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza amid Israel’s aggression

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 21st consignment of relief items for the war-affected people of Lebanon, Gaza and Syria landed in Damascus on Thursday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. 

Pakistan dispatched the consignment from the eastern city of Rawalpindi to Damascus on Wednesday. The relief items, sent with the help of the Pakistan Air Force, comprised 17 tons of supplies which included blankets, food and medicines. 

Israel has been attacking what it calls Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up such raids since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, leading Israel to launch a military campaign in which more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and more than 3,500 people in Lebanon.

“The 21st consignment of humanitarian aid for war affected/displaced people of Palestine Gaza and Lebanon has successfully landed in Damascus, which flew yesterday from the Nur Khan Base via a chartered flight, carrying 17 tons of relief items by GoP/Pak NDMA,” the authority said in a statement. 

It said the consignment was received by Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Akhtar, Pakistan’s ambassador in Damascus. 

“The Government of Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the war-affected people of Palestine (Gaza) and Lebanon,” the NDMA said. 

Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.