DAMASCUS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Seven truckloads of French-donated aid reached people in need in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus on Thursday, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) said in a statement.

The trucks delivered 50 tons of non-food relief items, such as blankets, tents, medical supplies and medicines, donated by the French government, said the statement.

SARC said its teams, as well as the UN, also reached Eastern Ghouta on Thursday after receiving the approvals from the Syrian authorities in less than 24 hours.

The statement said that SARC welcomes "every humanitarian initiative that aims to ease the suffering of the most vulnerable people throughout Syria."

The delivery is the first declared aid shipment by France, which is a staunch supporter of the rebels in Syria, to the people of Eastern Ghouta since the area returned under the government control in late April this year.