INDONESIA URGES EGYPT TO OPEN RAFAH BORDER CROSSING FOR AIDS

Nurfaizi Suswandi. Photo: MINA

Gaza, 12 Shawwal 1435/8 August 2014 (MINA) –  Indonesia urged the Egyptian government to open Rafah border crossing permanently  for humanitarian aids delivery, especially from the country to the Gaza Strip.

Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Nurfaizi  Suswandi said in a dialogue session with the Indonesian humanitarian agencies on the distribution of Indonesian Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Thursday (7/8).

According to him, there  are humanitarian agencies who’s trying to enter Gaza and stuck in Egypt.

“Until now, the Egyptian government is still not fully open the Rafah crossing and does not allow any non-government agencies to enter Gaza,” said Nurfaizi, who is in his holiday visit to Jakarta.

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In the dialogue that were attended by representatives of humanitarian agencies of Indonesia, such as the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), Indonesian Red Crescent (BSMI), Fast Action Response ( Aksi Cepat Tanggap-ACT) and Dhuafa Wallet (Dompet Dhuafa) as well as the international Islamic news service, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Nurfaizi also stated that the humanitarian aids to Gaza are still hampered, as the international NGOs  must pass through complicated procedures for entering Gaza.

“The opening of Rafah depends on Egyptian State Code Agency (General Intelligence Service / GIS),” he said.

“We will continue our efforts to demand Egypt to open the Rafah crossing, with patience. We, the Embassy in Cairo, will certainly help facilitate the aids. The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are our brothers and sisters, ” Nurfaizi stressed.

Therefore, the ambassador urged humanitarian organizations in Indonesia  who will deliver aids to the Gaza Strip, to  keep  in touch with the embassy so that they would facilitate the distribution effort.(L/P03/E01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)