The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has received appreciation from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the World Food Program (WFP) for its support to UN relief efforts in Gaza, SPA said on Thursday. WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between WHO and KSrelief in supporting humanitarian and health initiatives in the Gaza Strip.
Several agreements were signed by KSrelief with various organizations and agencies in the humanitarian field at the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Cairo on Thursday, in the presence of the Saudi Ambassador to Egypt, Osama bin Ahmed Nugali, to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Al-Mandhari emphasized the severe crises the Eastern Mediterranean region faces due to conflicts, wars, and political instability and how these challenges impact the region's infrastructure, particularly the healthcare system.
He described the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has been going on for 47 days, as a real test of humanitarian values worldwide and the commitment of UN organizations to serving humanity.
The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, expressed his gratitude towards KSrelief for their support in fulfilling the agency's duties in the critical situation of Gaza.
Lazzarini described the situation in Gaza as alarming, where 35,000 people have sought shelter in a UNRWA center after being displaced from their homes and losing all means of safety and protection. He welcomed the humanitarian truce in Gaza and stressed the importance of adhering to it to alleviate the humanitarian suffering and enhance relief efforts.
The WFP Regional Director for Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, Corinne Fleischer, also applauded KSrelief's support to several UN organizations in fulfilling their roles in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
She also welcomed the announced truce in Gaza, affirming the need for its implementation amid deteriorating food situation as bakeries have ceased operations due to fuel and flour shortages.
The Head of Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Egypt, Alfonso Verdú Pérez, stressed the importance of collaborating with international partners to end the war in Gaza.
He highlighted that regional and international organizations are tirelessly working to address the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
Pérez further added that 70% of the health and humanitarian institutions and facilities have been destroyed by the conflict, highlighting the significance of funding UN organizations to assist the Palestinian people in Gaza.