عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

EU Restarts Rafah Border Crossing Mission, Says Foreign Policy Chief Kallas

A view shows a gate at the Rafah border crossing, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, January 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows a gate at the Rafah border crossing, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, January 28, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

EU Restarts Rafah Border Crossing Mission, Says Foreign Policy Chief Kallas

A view shows a gate at the Rafah border crossing, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, January 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows a gate at the Rafah border crossing, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, January 28, 2025. (Reuters)

The European Union has restarted its civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah, a key entry and exit point for the Palestinian territory, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday.

The health ministry of Hamas-run Gaza said the first Palestinians - injured civilians and fighters - would enter Egypt on Saturday via the Rafah crossing, which has been shut to human traffic since last May.

People will only be allowed to travel in one direction, from Gaza to Egypt, for the time being, officials said.

Kallas announced on Monday there was broad agreement among member states that the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) could play a "decisive role" in supporting the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

"The EU’s civilian border mission deploys today (Friday) to the Rafah Crossing at the request of the Palestinians and the Israelis. It will support Palestinian border personnel and allow the transfer of individuals out of Gaza, including those who need medical care," she posted on X.

Egyptian security sources confirmed that members of the EU team had arrived at the facility.

The crossing will now be run by members of the Palestinian Authority and European monitors, PA and Hamas officials said.

It will be opened initially for 50 injured fighters and 50 wounded civilians, along with the people escorting them, the officials said, adding that a further 100 people, most likely students, would be allowed through on humanitarian grounds.

Gaza's health ministry said the transportation of patients from two hospitals in the north and south of the enclave would be coordinated with the World Health Organization.

A civilian EU mission to help monitor the Rafah crossing began work there in 2005 but was suspended in June 2007 after the Hamas group took over the Gaza Strip.

In standby mode thereafter, the mission had maintained 10 international and eight local staff.

Spain, Italy and France are now contributing personnel to the renewed mission.

The Spanish continent comprises eight security specialists and two agents assigned to the border management team, joining two Spanish members of the mission already deployed there, the foreign and interior ministries in Madrid said.

France said it had deployed three gendarmes specialized in border policing on Friday as part of the EU mission, while Italy said it had sent seven paramilitary Carabinieri officers to join two Italians already at the Rafah mission.

German ministries are also discussing sending a contingent.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Inadequate Food Consumption Worsens in 7 Yemeni Governorates

The United Nations plans to reach 12 million Yemenis in need of assistance this year. (dpa)
The United Nations plans to reach 12 million Yemenis in need of assistance this year. (dpa)
TT
20
TT

Inadequate Food Consumption Worsens in 7 Yemeni Governorates

The United Nations plans to reach 12 million Yemenis in need of assistance this year. (dpa)
The United Nations plans to reach 12 million Yemenis in need of assistance this year. (dpa)

Inadequate food consumption worsened in seven Yemeni governorates, mostly in Houthi-controlled areas, UN data revealed.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the suspension of US funds for some aid organizations is likely to impact the delivery humanitarian assistance in Yemen, potentially escalating food insecurity in the coming months.

Food insecurity remained alarmingly high in Yemen, reflecting a minimal increase of about 1% in January compared to December 2024 levels, the UN agency said in its High-Frequency Monitoring (HFM) Snapshot.

“Food insecurity remained alarmingly high in both areas under the control of the legitimate government Yemen and in Houthi-controlled areas, with inadequate food consumption scores of 53% and 43.7%, respectively,” it added.

Compared to last month, inadequate food consumption worsened in seven governorates. Five of them, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Sanaa and Amran, are under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi militias, in addition to the governorate of Maarib, which is partly controlled by the militias. Only Lahj is under the control of the legitimate government.

The FAO report also showed that among the food insecure population, approximately 20% experienced severe food deprivation, measured by poor food consumption score, with 24% in government areas, which is a 2% increase from the previous month.

In Houthi-controlled areas, severe food deprivation remained steady at 19%.

It said food insecurity is projected to likely worsen in February, coinciding with the peak of the lean season and worsening economic crisis marked by depreciating local currency and increasing food prices in areas under the control of the legitimate government.

Suspension of US aid

FAO expected that the suspension of USAID funds for some aid organizations is likely to impact the delivery humanitarian assistance in Yemen, potentially escalating food insecurity in the coming months.

Before the Trump administration said it is eliminating more than 90% of its USAID foreign assistance, Washington had announced in mid 2024 it is providing nearly $220 million in additional humanitarian aid to help the people of Yemen, including nearly $200 million through USAID and nearly $20 million through the Department of State.

The humanitarian assistance brought the US total assistance to the humanitarian response in Yemen to nearly $5.9 billion since the conflict began in September 2014.

The US State Department said these additional funds will support humanitarian partners to continue to reach millions of vulnerable Yemenis, as well as refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, with treatment of malnutrition, support primary healthcare, safe drinking water, gender-based violence care and psychosocial support for crisis-affected populations.

Maternal deaths

Other data released by the UN Population Fund (UNPF) said that Yemen still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region, at 183 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Some 40% of health facilities are partially functioning or completely out of service because of shortages in staff, funds, electricity, medicine and equipment, leaving millions without adequate care.

UN research showed that midwives could avert around two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths globally, and deliver some 90% of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services.

Yet the profession has for too long been marginalized within health systems, an imbalance UNFPA is working to rectify by investing in midwifery training and deployment to reach more women and save more lives, quickly and at scale.

In 2020, with funding from the European Union, UNFPA established a series of three-year training programs at seven institutes in remote and hard-to-access areas, where rates of maternal and newborn deaths in Yemen are the highest.

As a result, the Fund said over 400,000 women benefitted recently from the programs, of whom more than 50,000 had safe home deliveries with community midwives, and more than 77,000 received family planning services.