"We had planned this operation much before the war started. There is an urgent need of medicines in Iraq," said Niaz Ahmad Farooqi of the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, an Islamic organisation leading the delegation.

The 50-member medical delegation that will also include doctors from the humanitarian relief organisation the Red Crescent will leave for Syria Monday, Farooqi said.

The team will reach Baghdad by road from the Syrian capital Damascus.

Though they have volunteered their services, the expenses for the mission are paid by Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind.

Six Muslim clerics from India are already in Jordan ready to go to Iraq and act as human shields. They also plan to take food and medicines with them for the Iraqi people.

SPACE.WIRE