CAIRO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry renewed Egypt's commitment on Tuesday to ensuring the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Shoukry made the remarks during a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo with Sigrid Kaag, United Nations senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, where they discussed the catastrophic humanitarian conditions and the deteriorating services in Gaza.
This is Kaag's first regional trip after she was appointed the position pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023) to facilitate, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
The two sides stressed that "it is inevitable to increase the flow of sufficient aid to meet the urgent needs of Gazans as well as boosting the work of hospitals and relief agencies."
Shoukry stressed Egypt's keenness to provide all facilities to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of the Security Council resolution, including the rapid launch of a United Nations mechanism to speed up the sending of relief aid to the Gaza Strip.
He stressed the need for Israel to commit to facilitating and not obstructing the work of the UN official, noting Egypt's firm commitment since the beginning of the crisis, to sustain the implementation of aid to Gaza.
The Egyptian minister said the current tragic situation necessitates the delivery of aid through direct routes without any delay, adding that "achieving a ceasefire remains the best way to end the humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip."
Kaag, who will visit Rafah Crossing on Wednesday, voiced appreciation for Egyptian efforts to alleviate Palestinians' human suffering. ■
