The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres, conveyed his profound appreciation to the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, on Monday. This gratitude was particularly directed towards Al Nahyan’s instrumental role in facilitating the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to the Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip. The area is currently experiencing a significant military offensive, involving both air and ground attacks, by the Israeli Army.
The Emirati news agency, WAM, released a statement detailing the content of a phone call between Guterres and Al Nahyan. The UAE President emphasized the nation’s keen interest and commitment to bolster the UN’s humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. He expressed the urgency to alleviate the suffering of its inhabitants and cater to their needs in the midst of these adverse circumstances. In response, António Guterres expressed his profound gratitude for the UAE’s invaluable support towards the United Nations’ humanitarian role in Gaza.
In this critical time, both Guterres and Al Nahyan have urged the global community to take decisive action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza enclave. They highlighted the grave risk of the situation worsening if not addressed promptly. The UAE, particularly, underscored the importance of continued support to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). This comes despite ongoing investigations into the alleged involvement of some UNRWA employees in the October 7 attacks by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) against Israel.
Both parties concurred that immediate measures must be implemented to establish a ceasefire. This is crucial for the protection of civilians and to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. Moreover, these steps are necessary to prevent a regional escalation of the conflict.
In a related development, Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, announced that during the visit of the UN Senior Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction for the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, to the UAE, the country’s authorities pledged over 5 million euros. This considerable amount is intended to support UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to the provision of aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
