AMMAN -- The first Arab humanitarian caravan to Syria will head to the Turkish-Syrian border on Thursday, Jordanian Commission to Support the Syrian People (JCSSP) President Ali Abul Sukkar said on Tuesday.
Abul Sukkar said the caravan, organised in cooperation with the International Campaign in Support of the Syrian People, will provide displaced people in Syria with humanitarian and medical assistance.
Syria's two-year conflict between an armed opposition and regime forces has left some 70,000 people dead, according to the UN. The JCSSP president said 11 Arab countries in addition to Jordan are taking part in the caravan: Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya and Palestine.
"Many individuals and charitable societies supported the project financially by donating money," Abul Sukkar told The Jordan Times during a press conference, adding that organisers bought foodstuff and medical supplies from the Turkish market.
"Representatives of local committees in Syria will receive these items at the Turkish-Syrian border and distribute them to people in need," he said, noting that around five million Syrians are displaced within the country and face dismal conditions so there is an urgent need to help them.
Abul Sukkar added that the caravan will send a message to Syrians that all Arabs support them.
"The Syrian people were left alone facing the violence in their country. The Arab and international communities have not done their duty towards Syrians," he said.
Abul Sukkar expressed hope that several caravans will be sent to Syria in the future.
© Jordan Times 2013
