Jordan Times
Sunday, April 11, 2004
20 trucks laden with humanitarian aid head to Fallujah
AMMAN (JT) — Upon the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, more than 20 trucks laden with foodstuff, medicines and blankets headed for the Iraqi town of Fallujah yesterday afternoon.
Deputising for the King, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Halaiqa saw off the convoy at a ceremony attended by HRH Prince Rashid Hassan, chairman of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation's Board of Trustees, Abdul Salam Abbadi the organisation's secretary general and senior officials.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Friday that King Abdullah ordered the concerned authorities to send urgent humanitarian supplies to ease the suffering of the 300,000 inhabitants of Fallujah, a city under “siege, killing and destruction.”
Abbadi was quoted as saying that his teams started collecting the relief materials on Friday, adding that a delegation from the organisation was to accompany the convoy. The shipment will be delivered to hospitals, health centres and charity organisations in the war-stricken town.
The King also directed authorities to increase the capabilities of the military-run field hospital, which was set up a year ago in the town, 50km to the west of Baghdad, and has since treated thousands of cases.