Manama, July 26 (BNA) The national drive to support the Palestinian people in Gaza has been extended one more week, Secretary General of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) and Head of the Executive Committee of Bahrain National Committee for Supporting the Palestinian People in Gaza Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed said.

He pointed out that RCO Board of Trustees Chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa took the decision to extend the campaign one more week to enable more individuals, institutions and major companies to take part in it.

In a statement to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the RCO Secretary General said the first aid consignment to Gaza was inaugurated by Shaikh Nasser today while there is a second one being arranged in coordination with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and will reach the strip within days.

He added that the cargo consists of 41 tonnes of medical stuff, including surgery equipment, medicines for chronic diseases and antibiotics.

He also stressed that extending the drive for a second week aims to contribute to rebuilding the infrastructure of Gaza which was affected by the brutal Israeli offensive on the strip.

He thanked Bahrain’s leadership and the RCO Board of Trustees Chairman for the noble initiatives to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

He also lauded the moral support given by Imams and religious clerics to the campaign, commending the efforts of Bahrain National Committee for Supporting the Palestinian People in Gaza medical committee and the directives of Health Minister Sadaq bin Abdulkarim Al Shehabi.

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BNA 1457 GMT 2014/07/26