Singapore's Commitment to Gaza

In a bold stance, Singapore has pledged to persist in its humanitarian efforts towards Gaza, even in the face of Israel's recent ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This development was confirmed by Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, during a parliamentary session on November 12.

Response to Parliamentary Queries

This announcement came in response to a query from MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who sought clarity on how Singapore would maintain support for Gaza amidst Israel's restrictive measures against UNRWA, including whether the government would consider airdropping additional aid.

Concerns Raised by Minister

Dr. Balakrishnan expressed significant concern regarding the legislative action taken by Israel, which prohibits UNRWA's activities within Israel and prevents state authorities from engaging with the agency. He stated, "This will hamper the provision of humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank."

Advocacy for Humanitarian Access

The minister urged all relevant parties to uphold the critical humanitarian role of UN agencies, advocating for their unimpeded access to the areas requiring assistance and ensuring the safety of their personnel.

Collaborative Efforts in Humanitarian Aid

Despite the limitations posed by Israel's ban, Singapore has been proactive in collaborating with various regional partners to deliver much-needed support to the civilian population of Gaza. Dr. Balakrishnan highlighted cooperation with nations including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus, as well as humanitarian organizations like UNICEF, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization.

Past Humanitarian Contributions

Reflecting on Singapore's past contributions, he detailed that five separate waves of humanitarian assistance have already been directed towards Gaza. Notably, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has played a crucial logistical role, utilizing an A330 multi-role tanker to transport medical supplies, blankets, sanitation products, water filtration systems, and food items to Al-Arish, Egypt, from where they were transferred to Gaza in late 2023.

Recent Airdrop Initiatives

Further showcasing Singapore's commitment, in March 2024, the RSAF deployed a C-130 aircraft from Jordan to airdrop over 20 tonnes of direct food supplies into Gaza—reaffirming the city-state's dedication to tackling the humanitarian crisis.

Ongoing Aid Tranches

Moreover, Singapore's fourth tranche of aid, announced in July 2024, included rice and canned sardines, which have been delivered to Cyprus, awaiting transit to Gaza facilitated by the UAE's logistical support.

Financial Contributions to Humanitarian Efforts

Dr. Balakrishnan also outlined the financial contributions made by Singapore to the humanitarian causes in the region since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation has donated a staggering S$8.1 million to UNRWA and S$2.7 million to UNICEF. Additionally, the Singapore Red Cross contributed US$100,000 worth of humanitarian supplies to the Egyptian Red Crescent in November 2023.

Commitment to Humanitarian Principles

In closing, Dr. Balakrishnan emphasized Singapore's continuous search for effective means to provide timely assistance to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Gaza, reflecting the nation's commitment to humanitarian principles in a turbulent geopolitical landscape.