Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Nevine Al-Kabbag, recently met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag.
The minister demanded that pressure be applied to the Israeli side to resolve numerous issues, including frequent changes in the rules for allowing in aid trucks, vehicle inspection at multiple crossings located far apart, and frequent loading and unloading of shipments. As a result, it can take trucks up to 20 days to enter.
Furthermore, some dual-use products are prohibited despite their medical and vital importance. These include oxygen cylinders, oxygen generators, solar-powered devices, water disinfectants, ventilators, certain medical supplies, and tent-related metals.
The minister also demanded that the amount of aid delivered to Gaza be increased as current shipments barely meet the needs of 30-40 percent of residents. She also argued that each truck should be filled by 90-100 percent rather than the 50 percent mandated by the Israeli occupation.
The UN coordinator promised to look into ways to ease aid delivery measures through mediation. She also advocated for the creation of a unified platform for exchanging aid data, which would include major stakeholders such as the United Nations, Red Crescent, Red Cross, international NGOs, NGOs, firms, and the private sector.
Minister Kabbag also demanded financial resources for Egypt, citing the costs associated with delivering aid to Gaza. The country has also received 400,000 Sudanese since the outbreak of the insurgency in April 2023, and it currently hosts nine million refugees and asylum seekers.
