The first convoy carrying relief materials crossed the border at Arar later yesterday. Besides a large field hospital manned by 35 Saudi doctors, the aid, ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, included medical equipment and medicines as well as 15 truckloads of food, water, milk and blankets.

Saudi forces will protect the convoy on the 400-km journey to Baghdad, said Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation. He described the field hospital as the largest in size and number of medical personnel.

In addition to material assistance, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, has given orders to provide medical treatment in Saudi hospitals to Iraqis wounded in the war. This operation will begin within 10 days. Initially, Prince Khaled said, 200 injured Iraqis will be flown in for treatment.

Air ambulances will be used to transport Iraqis if their conditions warrant airlifting. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said, “The authorities have given instructions to accommodate as many wounded Iraqis as possible. According to the royal order, the Iraqis must be provided with all medical services.”

King Fahd last week ordered an emergency $80-million aid package for Iraq. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said the amount could be increased if necessary.

Prince Khaled said future supplies of aid will include rice, flour, dates, sugar, milk, vegetables and mineral water.

The relief effort was arranged in coordination with the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Finance and Health, and the Saudi Red Crescent Society.

The Saudi relief convoy was earlier seen off at the Arar border post by Prince Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Musaed, governor of the Northern Border Region, Maj. Gen. Atiyya Al-Toury, director of the joint forces affairs, and other senior officials.

Al-Toury said the government had coordinated with US authorities to guarantee security for the Saudi convoy.

He said a Saudi humanitarian center would be established at the Red Crescent Hospital in Baghdad. “There will be no shortage of relief supplies to meet the needs of the Iraqis,” he said.