Singapore, 20 January 2025 – In response to the ceasefire that took effect on Sunday, 19 January 2025 in Gaza, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is scaling up on its humanitarian efforts by committing SGD 300,000 worth of relief supplies to support the needs of affected communities. This latest tranche of humanitarian assistance will include food parcels, hygiene kits and medical supplies.

“Singapore Red Cross is glad that the ceasefire is now in place and this presents a crucial opportunity to scale up on humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians affected by the crisis. Our focus remains on providing swift, life-saving support - ensuring that those in need of urgent medical care, psychological support, and essential relief will receive the help they need,” said Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General/CEO of the Singapore Red Cross.

SRC will continue to collaborate with its Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement partners, including the Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to ensure that urgently needed aid is being distributed to those in need. SRC is ready to deploy an operations coordinator to work with our ground partners to coordinate SRC's latest tranche of contribution.

Mr Sahari Ani, staff member of the SRC, assisted the Egyptian Red Crescent to identify the immediate and critical needs in Gaza and to facilitate the delivery of relief supplies to Gaza in 2023.

Since the start of the conflict on 7 October 2023, SRC has been actively working with the ERCS to procure and deliver essential relief supplies - food parcels, hygiene kits, and medical supplies through the land borders in Rafah. During the ceasefire, the ERCS will be coordinating closely with state authorities to intensify aid delivery into Gaza. ERCS has shared that the aid stockpiled near the Rafah crossing is ready for immediate dispatch once the borders are reopened. This includes daily delivery of 600 truckloads of aid and fuel during the first phase of the ceasefire.

SRC's volunteer team assisted the Egyptian Red Crescent with packing food parcels in 2024.

To date, SRC has disbursed close to SGD 1 million worth of relief aid through the ERCS. This includes the deployment of an operations coordinator and an 8-person team to assist the ERCS with relief operations in 2024. SRC will continue to work with the Movement partners to monitor the situation in Gaza closely and adjust the response according to the needs of the affected communities. Funds raised from the public will directly support the displaced Palestinian communities in Gaza.

Photo by Palestine Red Crescent Society / Raed Al-Sharif