Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, Leads Humanitarian Aid Mission to Palestine

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, will visit Palestine and Israel on Thursday, 27th June 2002, to hand over a consignment of medicines, hospital equipment and food to the Palestinian people on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa.

Donations collected by 'Gift of the Givers', supported by many other civil society organisations, was used to purchase the much needed aid. A cargo plane is due to depart from South Africa on Wednesday, 26th June 2002 to deliver the supplies to Palestine.

In addition, the Government of South Africa will hand over to the Palestinian Ambassador in South Africa, a cheque of R4 million to be used to provide medical assistance to the people of Palestine. During his visit to the region, the Deputy Minister will meet with key Israeli and Palestinian figures to discuss the situation in the Middle East including, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres.

The Deputy Minister said today: "Whilst I am honoured to represent the Government and people of South Africa, who have shown such generosity of spirit toward the Palestinian people in these difficult times, I am also deeply saddened that this visit comes at a time of such great tragedy and suffering for Palestinians and Israelis.

I will take the opportunity to share our own South African experience of national transformation, express our solidarity and try to offer a glimmer of hope to all peace loving Israelis and Palestinians who want an end to war, devastation and injustice. I again reiterate, there can be no military solutions to political problems."

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
26th June 2002