Plan International, a children’s rights organization, has voiced sharp criticism regarding the German government’s plans for a joint German-Jordanian air bridge to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.
While acknowledging the positive aspect of renewed movement towards providing essential supplies to the population, Petra Berner, CEO of Plan International Germany, told the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers that the initiative is largely symbolic. She described the air bridge as inefficient, costly and potentially dangerous.
Berner highlighted concerns that aid could fall uncontrolled during deliveries, forcing vulnerable individuals into areas experiencing military conflict and creating a situation governed by the principle of the strongest. “This has nothing to do with humanitarian assistance” she stated.
Furthermore, Berner emphasized that the volume of aid deliverable via air is a fraction of what could be transported by trucks. She asserted that a straightforward solution exists: substantial quantities of supplies, already stockpiled by organizations including Plan International, await access at borders. “The transporters simply need to be allowed into Gaza” she explained, adding that experienced humanitarian workers could then utilize established distribution networks to effectively reach those most in need, particularly children.
