THE first load of medical aid sent by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and its member unions arrived in Gaza today.

The supplies were delivered to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, whose activities in the stricken region include the running of a mobile hospital in Gaza.

It was the first shipment of medical aid purchased and sent from the ITF office in Amman, Jordan, as part of an ongoing relief appeal mounted by the union federation.

The ITF said that more supplies will follow as soon as possible.

The first shipment was made up of items identified by doctors working in Gaza as the most crucially needed and included wheelchairs and crutches, surgical gloves, thousands of rolls of bandages, syringes, facemasks, gloves and dressings.

The organisation is appealing to trade unionists for support — see www.itfgazafund.org to find out how to get involved.