RAMALLAH, September 20, 2017 (WAFA) – The Palestinian relief team to the Caribbean islands arrived in Venezuela on its way to the hurricane-hit islands to help in the international relief efforts, Foreign Minister Riyad Malki announced on Wednesday.

He said in a statement that the team, composed of 36 people from the civil defense as well as local and international Palestinian physicians and surgeons, will head to the Caribbean islands after the current hurricane that is hitting the area is over.

With the heavy damage caused to these islands by the hurricanes, Palestine had to act quickly to help in the international relief efforts and to provide humanitarian and other assistance as a message of support from Palestine to the people of these areas, he said.

The team is headed by the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA), which is part of the Palestinian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry.

Malki said PICA has worked with the Palestinian embassy in Venezuela to prepare for the relief works and that doctors from Venezuela of Palestinian origin have joined the team.

The embassy prepared food packages and other necessities to deliver to residents of the Caribbean islands.

Palestinian Diaspora investors have also expressed a desire to join in efforts to rebuild the islands damaged by the hurricanes.

M.K.