A BLACKBURN-BASED disaster relief charity which delivered several tons of aid to Gaza last year has agreed to revisit the troubled region.

The Al-Imdaad Foundation, which is headquartered in Audley Range, is aiming to provide more than 300 tons of rice into the territory that has been blighted by war.

Last year, the organisation’s Feed Gaza humanitarian food aid convoy helped address the dire conditions many Gazans are in as a result of the Egyptian and Israeli blockade in 2007.

The blockage has restricted fishing, farming and combined with years of conflict, more than 846,000 are without affordable, nutritious food.

Zubair Valimulla, international projects coordinator for the foundation, said it is hoped the convoy will bring in a new era of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

He said: “The Al-Imdaad Foundation felt it imperative to repeat the Feed Gaza humanitarian food aid convoy in order to address some of the difficulties faced by struggling families.

“More than 100,000 people had their homes destroyed in the most recent war and, according to recent UN data, some 65,000 still remain displaced.

“With 300 tons of food aid it is possible to provide meals for up to half a million people, thereby making a significant difference in the lives of many families.

“Up to 47 per cent of Gazan families remain either moderately or severely food insecure.

“This means some 846,000 people remain without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.”

The foundation will be using the help of the Jordan Hashemite charity to safely deliver the food which will be transported through Jordan and into Gaza.

He said: “We worked with the charity last year and the whole event went successfully, so we have agreed to work with them again to make sure the food arrives safely.

“An appeal is made to donors to support this initiative and enable the foundation to make the Feed Gaza campaign an ongoing source of comfort to the people of Gaza.”

The convoy is expected to launch at the end of October and the foundation is asking for people to donate towards the aid.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I really appreciate and respect anyone who attempts to help those who are suffering all over the world.

“It’s extremely difficult to collect the aid needed, so it’s great to see a charity with a base in Blackburn helping out those on the other side of the world.”

The foundation, which was set up in 2003, has said it’s dedicated to providing humanitarian services in crisis and non-crisis situations throughout the world.

For more information call 01254 698771.