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Religious assistance addressed by the GC, however, does not include activities that are apretext for political agitation against the Occupying Power. 27911.17 RELIEF EFFORTS AND CONSIGNMENTSSpecial rules address relief efforts in occupied territory. Other rules address relief effortsoutside the context of occupation. 28011.17.1 Collective Relief. If the whole or part of the population of an occupied territoryis inadequately supplied, the Occupying Power shall agree to relief schemes on behalf of theaffected population, and shall facilitate them by all the means at its disposal. Such schemes,which may be undertaken either by States or by impartial humanitarian organizations such as theICRC, shall consist, in particular, of the provision of consignments of foodstuffs, medicalsupplies, and clothing. 281All Parties to the GC shall permit the free passage of these consignments and shallguarantee their protection. 282A State granting free passage to consignments on their way to territory occupied by anadverse party to the conflict shall, however, have the right to search the consignments, toregulate their passage according to prescribed times and routes, and to be reasonably satisfied(through the Protecting Power) that these consignments are to be used for the relief of the needypopulation, and are not to be used for the benefit of the Occupying Power. 28311.17.1.1 Diversion of Relief Consignments. The Occupying Power shall in noway whatsoever divert relief consignments from the purpose for which they are intended, except279 GC COMMENTARY 318 (“[R]eligious assistance must in no case serve as a pretext for political agitation againstthe Occupying Power. Should occasion arise, the Occupying Power would be entitled to take appropriate action,since the provision under discussion authorizes only spiritual assistance, and not activities which have nothing to dowith religion.”).280 Refer to § 5.19.3 (Passage of Relief Consignments); § 8.10.1 (Receipt of Individual or Collective Relief); § 9.20(POW Correspondence and Relief Shipments); § 10.23 (Internee Correspondence and Relief Shipments).281 GC art. 59 (“If the whole or part of the population of an occupied territory is inadequately supplied, theOccupying Power shall agree to relief schemes on behalf of the said population, and shall facilitate them by all themeans at its disposal. Such schemes, which may be undertaken either by States or by impartial humanitarianorganizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, shall consist, in particular, of the provision ofconsignments of foodstuffs, medical supplies and clothing. All Contracting Parties shall permit the free passage ofthese consignments and shall guarantee their protection.”).282 GC art. 59 (“All Contracting Parties shall permit the free passage of these consignments and shall guarantee theirprotection.”).283 GC art. 59 (“A Power granting free passage to consignments on their way to territory occupied by an adverseParty to the conflict shall, however, have the right to search the consignments, to regulate their passage according toprescribed times and routes, and to be reasonably satisfied through the Protecting Power that these consignments areto be used for the relief of the needy population and are not to be used for the benefit of the Occupying Power.”).785