Relief convoys in Egypt head toward Gaza border crossing, aid groups say

By AFP and ToI Staff 17 October 2023, 8:47 am

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A convoy of trucks carrying aid supplies for Gaza from Egypt waits on the main Ismailia desert road, about 300 kilometers east of the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, on the way to the Rafah crossing on October 16, 2023. (Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Relief convoys that had been waiting in the Egyptian city of El Arish are heading toward the Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, aid officials say.

“We have arrived at the terminal and are now waiting for the next step,” says Heba Rashed, who runs the aid group Mersal. Hundreds more trucks were headed along the coast road for the 40-kilometer (25-mile) journey to Rafah, other aid officials said.

It still remains unclear if the crossing will be opened to allow the aid to be transferred into Gaza.