His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday ordered the dispatch of immediate assistance to the Gaza Strip in light of the acute shortage of several food items there.

Secretary General of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) Abdul Salam Abbadi said the organisation began preparing the aid convoy, adding that it will leave in the coming few days.

The new convoy brings the total number of such convoys sent to the Palestinian territories to 234.

Over the past three years, JHCO dispatched around JD54.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.