China has provided multiple rounds of emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza: CIDCA spokesperson

Q: It came to our attention that some western media claimed that since the outbreak of the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has done nothing to help with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Can you introduce China's position and measures in this regard?

A: Today marks the 140th day of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. More than 29,000 people have died in Gaza and its infrastructure has almost been completely destroyed. Over two million Gazans have become homeless, are without food or medicine, and struggling to survive. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate, unrestricted and continuous humanitarian aid to Gaza.

China is highly concerned with the humanitarian situation in Gaza and has provided immediate emergency humanitarian assistance. On Oct 26, 2023, the Chinese government provided cash assistance respectively to the Palestinian National Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as the first batch of emergency aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. This batch of supplies has arrived at Rafah port and been delivered to the Palestinian side, which is mainly food and medicine.

On Nov 29, 2023, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on the sidelines of the UN Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue in New York that China will provide another batch of emergency humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip, which mainly includes medical supplies and food. All the medical supplies have been airlifted to Egypt and the food has also been shipped out.

Later, China announced that it would provide a third batch of emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Currently, China is working with relevant parties to determine the details of the supplies and trying to ensure the prompt delivery of the assistance.

Meanwhile, China is in close contact with the UNRWA to explore potential ways to support the people of Gaza with the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.

China's timely and selfless assistance has been widely praised by the people of Gaza and the international community. China will continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability in light of the development of the situation and the needs of the Palestinian side. We also strongly call on the international community to make timely and active efforts to alleviate and end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure that humanitarian relief supplies can reach the people of Gaza in a fast, safe, unimpeded and sustainable manner.