According to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU wants to set up a humanitarian air bridge to Egypt to bring relief supplies to the people in the Gaza Strip. A first delivery should take place this week. However, it is uncertain how the aid will reach the Gaza Strip.
“The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip need humanitarian aid,” Von der Leyen said on Monday in the Albanian capital Tirana. That is why the EU will set up a “humanitarian corridor over Egypt” and the first two planes carrying aid for the Gaza Strip should take off this week.
It is not yet clear how exactly the aid will reach the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian-Israeli border crossing at Rafah has not yet reopened. Palestinians with foreign passports, including countless children, have been waiting in vain for passage for days. Long convoys of trucks with aid supplies are also being supported on the Egyptian side.
Relief funds will be tripled
Von der Leyen announced this weekend that the EU would triple humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Aid money would be increased by 50 million euros to a total of 75 million euros, she said after a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The EU works with the United Nations to ensure aid reaches those in need.
Rafah is still closed
“The Rafah crossing must be opened without further delay,” demands the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcič, in a press release from the European Commission.
France and Egypt, meanwhile, called for the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip and the departure of foreigners from the Palestinian territory. “Those who want to leave Gaza must be able to do so,” French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Monday during a visit to Cairo. “To everyone: we demand that border crossings can be opened,” she added. Her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri blamed Israel for the closure of the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Israel has “not yet given any signal” for an opening, he explained.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
