International convoys heading for Gaza

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TATROUS, Syria, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A large convoy of cars and a ship from Syria carrying humanitarian aid are making their way to the Gaza Strip with goods for the Palestinian people.

A Syrian ship carrying 665 tons of supplies left the port of Tatrous for the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Syria's state-run news agency SANA said.

Meanwhile, a convoy of vehicles from all over the world, also departed Saturday from London. The cargo will travel mainly via land then board ships to the Egyptian port of Al Arish, the Viva Palestina organization said.

Once there, the organization said the goods will be loaded on vehicles and transferred to the Gaza Strip via the Egyptian border crossing at Rafah.

State Minister for the Syrian Red Crescent Affairs Bashar al-Shaar Saturday said the Syrian ship, will head for the Egyptian port of Al-Arish with humanitarian and medical aid, SANA said.

''Syrian people, from all walks of life, took part in the donations, mainly the NGOs and economic bodies,'' al-Shaar said.

The British convoy heading to Gaza -- dubbed "Viva Palestina 5 - a global lifeline to Gaza" -- left as other convoys from Casablanca, Morocco and Doha, Qatar also headed for Gaza, the pro-Palestinian organization said.

Some 500 vehicles are participating in the convoy.