Continuing the League of Arab States' efforts and following the directives of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, a high-level delegation, led by Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector, will depart tomorrow morning, on 24 November
The delegation includes senior officials from the General Secretariat, comprising ministers plenipotentiary and advisors responsible for the technical secretariats of the Councils of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and Health.
The delegation will travel to deliver humanitarian, health, and social aid, as approved by the Councils of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and Health, to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.
Ambassador Dr. Abu Ghazaleh expressed gratitude to Her Excellency Minister Nevin Al-Qabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and permanent member of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs. She commended Minister Al-Qabbaj's initiative to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip alongside the League of Arab States delegation, underscoring the commitment of the Egyptian government to supporting collective Arab humanitarian and social efforts.
In furtherance of Egyptian efforts in this domain, she highlighted that the Minister graciously participated in the League of Arab States' delegation, aiding in the preparation and equipping of the aid convoy from the Egyptian Red Crescent headquarters on 16 November. She commended the pivotal role played by the Egyptian Red Crescent in tirelessly preparing and delivering humanitarian convoys.
She extended gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population and head of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, for his efforts in providing healthcare support to Gazans through the Ministerial Council. She emphasised the cooperation of the Councils of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and Health, highlighting their dedication to improving humanitarian, health, and social conditions in the Gaza Strip and across Arab countries.
Ambassador Dr. Abu Ghazaleh anticipated that after the League of Arab States delegation, in collaboration with Minister Nevin Al-Qabbaj, follows up on the procedures for delivering the aid convoy from the Rafah crossing, they will visit the injured in Arish Hospital, demonstrating complete solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip.
Expressing profound sorrow over the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, she characterised it as exceeding any humanitarian disaster in history. The toll extends beyond casualties, encompassing children, women, the elderly, and the youth, with the world witnessing extensive infrastructure destruction and near-total disruption of daily life.
Dr. Abu Ghazaleh underscored the urgent need to sustain the delivery of aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. She called for the depoliticisation of humanitarian efforts, advocating for the adherence to human rights principles and life's fundamental tenets in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, and relevant principles and customs, as well as in harmony with divine teachings.
Ambassador Dr. Abu Ghazaleh reiterated that the League of Arab States, through its social sectors, will persist in collaborating with member states to ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian, social, and health aid. She expressed hope for a complete and comprehensive cessation of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, bringing an end to this enduring human tragedy and unrelenting suffering.
