The United Nations on Tuesday announced the appointment of a coordinator to oversee humanitarian relief shipments into Gaza as part of a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted on Friday to boost humanitarian aid. Sigrid Kaag, the Netherlands’ outgoing finance minister, will be the senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza and will start the role on Jan. 8, the U.N. said in a statement.
Quick Read
- Appointment of Sigrid Kaag as Coordinator for Gaza Relief Efforts: The United Nations has appointed Sigrid Kaag, the outgoing finance minister of the Netherlands, as the senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza. This role, starting on January 8, involves overseeing humanitarian relief shipments to Gaza as part of a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at boosting humanitarian aid in the region.
- Background and Role of Sigrid Kaag: Kaag, a veteran UN diplomat, has experience in managing complex international challenges, demonstrated by her previous leadership in overseeing the elimination of Syria’s chemical stockpile. In her new role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify humanitarian relief consignments for Gaza and establish mechanisms to expedite aid through countries not involved in the conflict.
- Context of the Security Council Resolution: The Security Council resolution, adopted amid intense negotiations and vote delays, focuses on enabling safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access in Gaza. It stops short of calling for a ceasefire, highlighting the intricate balance of international diplomacy, particularly with the United States abstaining from the vote to allow the resolution’s adoption.
- The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: The appointment comes against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, marked by a significant death toll and displacement due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The U.N.’s effort aims to address the immediate humanitarian needs while also working towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
- International Response and Diplomatic Challenges: The U.S. and Israel’s opposition to a ceasefire, citing concerns over benefiting Hamas, contrasts with the global call for humanitarian assistance and conflict resolution. The situation reflects the complexity of international relations and the challenge of addressing humanitarian crises in conflict zones.
Reuters has the story:
UN appoints Gaza humanitarian relief coordinator following aid vote
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, Dec 26 (Reuters) –
The United Nations on Tuesday announced the appointment of a coordinator to oversee humanitarian relief shipments into Gaza as part of a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted on Friday to boost humanitarian aid.
Sigrid Kaag, the Netherlands’ outgoing finance minister, will be the senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza and will start the role on Jan. 8, the U.N. said in a statement.
“In this role she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian relief consignments for Gaza,” said the U.N. She will also establish a “mechanism” to accelerate aid into Gaza through countries not involved with the conflict.
A veteran UN diplomat, Kaag was previously the head of an international team of weapons experts charged with overseeing the elimination of Syria’s chemical stockpile.
In July she announced that she would leave government because of the increasingly “toxic” environment for politicians in the Netherlands.
Friday’s Security Council resolution stopped short of calling for a ceasefire after a week of vote delays and intense negotiations to avoid a United States veto. It calls for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access and to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
Amid global outrage over a rising Gaza death toll in 11 weeks of war between Israel and Hamas and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, the U.S. abstained to allow the 15-member council to adopt a resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. and Israel oppose a ceasefire, believing it would only benefit Hamas. Washington instead supports pauses in fighting to protect civilians and free hostages taken by Hamas.
After Hamas killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages on Oct. 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with an assault that has laid much of Gaza to waste.
Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza say nearly 21,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, with more feared buried under rubble. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, many several times.
