On January 16, 2024, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Sigrid Kaag, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza. The visit marks Kaag’s first to the region since her appointment as coordinator of humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Gaza, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023).
During this meeting, Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to guaranteeing access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, despite the obstacles posed by Israel. The discussions focused on the catastrophic humanitarian situation and the deterioration of services in Gaza.
Shoukry stressed the importance of quickly establishing a UN mechanism to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, while insisting that Israel must facilitate the UN coordinator’s mission. He also stressed that a cessation of hostilities remains the optimal way to end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.
For his part, Kaag expressed his deep gratitude to Egypt for its efforts, especially for its assistance and delivery of aid to Gaza. She also welcomed Egypt’s support for the UN Security Council resolution and the facilitation of the use of the Rafah crossing by UN relief agencies to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
As part of coordination efforts to establish the UN mechanism to expedite assistance to Gaza, Kaag plans to travel to Arish airport and the Rafah crossing the next day.
This visit and meeting highlight the importance of international cooperation in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Egypt’s commitment to playing a key role in this situation. Access to humanitarian assistance is essential to alleviate the suffering of Gaza residents and Egypt, as a neighboring country, is committed to supporting the UN’s humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza.
Ultimately, the situation in Gaza requires concerted international action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and secure a better future for the region’s women, men and children. Egypt plays a crucial role in these efforts and its engagement is essential to ensure the long-term stability and well-being of Gaza.