Amman, January 20, 2025 – The Europe Today: On 17 January 2025, His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), has attended the dispatchment of the first “Flour for Humanity Program – Gaza Emergency Appeal” convoy from Jordan to Gaza. The ceremony, held at the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) Warehouse in Ghabawi, Zarqa, took place with the honourable participation of His Excellency Talgat Shaldanbay, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Jordan. The convoy consists of 12 trucks carrying 200 tonnes of first-grade wheat flour, addressing the acute food shortages in Gaza.
The Republic of Kazakhstan, as the hosting state of IOFS, has played a key role in supporting this initiative. Kazakhstan’s leadership and steadfast support for IOFS have been integral in enabling the organization’s humanitarian activities, including the Flour for Humanity Program. This underscores the country’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and humanitarian crises globally.
Since October 2023, intensified attacks have caused widespread destruction in Gaza, displacing millions and destroying vital infrastructure, homes, and hospitals. These escalating humanitarian needs were underscored at the joint extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh on 11 November 2023, resulting in a call for urgent assistance to prevent worsening food insecurity. In accordance with the IOFS Statute, specifically subparagraphs (i) and (j) of Article 4, IOFS responded to this crisis by participating in humanitarian programs upon the request of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and by creating regional mechanisms to provide emergency assistance to member states.
In early 2024, IOFS issued an Emergency Appeal to address the severe hunger threatening Gaza and initiated the Flour for Humanity Program. This program is a direct response to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)’s urgent call for help and aims to supply 1,000 tonnes of wheat flour to the Gaza Strip. The first phase, conducted in partnership with the JHCO, secured 200 tonnes of fortified wheat flour—equivalent to 8,000 packages—thanks to the generous contributions of several member states, including the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During the ceremony, JHCO representatives elaborated on their continuing efforts, which created a sustainable aid corridor through Jordan given the constraints on the Egyptian route, which was suspended by Israeli authorities, limiting large-scale deliveries to Gaza before the ceasefire. JHCO’s initiatives encompass not only food aid but also winterization, medical support, and shelter for those left vulnerable by the ongoing conflict. After a tour of the JHCO warehouses, His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn and His Excellency Talgat Shaldanbay were briefed on the facilities, followed by a ceremonial loading of the trucks destined for Gaza.
The convoy is expected to reach the Kerem Shalom/Karam Abu Salem crossing within two days, where coordination with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other UN agencies will ensure safe distribution to approximately 8,000 households, alleviating critical food shortages in the area. This shipment marks not only the first direct IOFS initiative but also the first OIC-branded convoy to the territories, along with the generous contributions of Red Crescent societies, NGOs, and bilateral aid agencies of the Muslim countries.
The ceremony coincided with a temporary ceasefire agreement in Gaza after more than 465 days of hostilities that have taken the lives of over 46,000 people. The toll of this brutal conflict includes the destruction of essential infrastructure and the displacement of millions amid harsh winter conditions. Children under five are among the most vulnerable, facing an immediate risk of malnutrition. By the end of 2024, 1.84 million people in Gaza were reported to be going hungry, with around 133,000 at imminent risk of starvation. Approximately 96 percent of the population—over 2.15 million people—face high levels of acute food insecurity through September 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). While the entire territory is designated as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), over 495,000 people are in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe), experiencing extreme hunger and exhaustion of coping strategies.
His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn expressed his profound gratitude to JHCO, UN partners, and the donating OIC Member States. He also underscored IOFS’s adherence to the humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality, and independence, emphasizing that no overhead or administrative costs are deducted from contributions and every donation goes directly toward covering procurement and logistical expenses on the ground. The Director General also appealed for further support from OIC Member States and donors worldwide, highlighting the urgency of sustaining future convoys. Beyond delivering immediate relief, IOFS is committed to advancing long-term recovery efforts, including livelihood restoration, the revitalization of Gaza’s agricultural sector, and the reconstruction of essential infrastructure.
