Lattakia - The Lifeline 5 aid convoy arrived in Lattakia on Sunday [3 October] including 43 vehicles, 85 activists and humanitarian aid offered by the people of Turkey and European countries to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The convoy carries medicines unavailable in Gaza Strip for cancer and kidney diseases in addition to school stationery, children's toys and aid for those whose houses were demolished.
In a statement to the press, coordinator of the campaign Zaher Al-Berawi said that the convoy and all other convoys which went to Gaza aim at breaking the Israeli unjust siege on the people of the Strip, asserting the participants' determination to reach the strip.
He said that the convoy is the largest since Israel's crime against the Freedom Flotilla which claimed the lives of 9 Turkish activists, which indicates that international activists and civil society institutions are still demanding the world to put an end to this unjust blockade and signals the increased world popular support to the Palestinian cause.
For his part, Convoy Commander Assistant Kevin Ovenden pointed out that the campaign aims at creating a balance and coordination between the stances of the peoples and countries of the world towards the Palestinian issue and developing the direction of international public opinion whose awareness and support to this issue and for lifting the siege on Gaza has mounted.
Ovenden said the convoy which arrived in Lattakia consists of 43 vehicles, accompanied by political activists and representatives from civil society institutions and charity organizations. This convoy will be joined by another coming through Jordan and the Arab Gulf on Monday, which will be carrying 55 vehicles accompanied by 150 activists.
He added that 120 activists from North Africa, particularly from Algeria, will arrive along with 40 vehicles in addition to some participation from Morocco. Thus, about 370 activists with 150 vehicles will be heading from Lattakia port to the Egyptian el-Arish port then towards Gaza Strip to deliver the aid which was collected from 25 countries.
The convoy had remarkable official and popular reception in Syria. Secretary of al-Ba'th Arab Socialist Party, Lattakia Branch, Farouk Bdeiwi said Syria, out of its belief in the centrality of the Palestinian issue, will offer all help to contribute to strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people under occupation until achieving their national goals in liberation and unity.