MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. A cargo of Russian humanitarian aid has so far failed to reach the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border checkpoint, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

"By decision of the president [of Russia], we sent humanitarian aid onboard Emergency Situations Ministry planes, brought it to the border in coordination with our Egyptian friends. But the checkpoint is closed. There are bombardments on the other side, and it is not safe to transport cargoes or people," Bogdanov, who is also a Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, said at a round table discussion dedicated to "the current situation in the Holy Land."

On October 19, an IL-76 aircraft of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry delivered a cargo of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza to El-Arish. It carried 27 tons of food (flour, sugar, rice and pasta).

The Egyptian Red Crescent Society said all the aid unloaded from the planes is stored at the El Arish stadium, from where it is sent by truck to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing point.