Asian Aid Convoy Reaches Gaza Strip

The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan, the Asia 1 aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies for the besieged Palestinians, has arrived in the Gaza Strip.

As part of an Asian aid mission, the convoy entered the coastal strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Monday.

Some 105 human rights activists gathered at the crossing. Most of them flew to Egypt from Syria. And eight activists arrived at the Egyptian port of El Arish onboard a ship.

Egyptian authorities had prevented Iranian activists with the convoy from entering Egypt.

The aid convoy, which has travelled 7 thousand Kilometers, started its journey in the Indian capital, New Delhi. It had passed through Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria to reach Egypt and finally the Gaza Strip. The convoy had to wait for more than a week in Latikia, Syria awaiting permission from Egypt.

The blockade persists while Gaza is far from recovering from the December 2008-January 2009 "Israeli" onslaught on the besieged enclave which led to the killing of more than 1,400 Palestinians as well as damage worth more than $ 1.6 billion.