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UfM Chief: Euro-Med Cooperation Is a Necessity, Not Luxury 

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General Nasser Kamel. Asharq Al-Awsat
Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General Nasser Kamel. Asharq Al-Awsat
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UfM Chief: Euro-Med Cooperation Is a Necessity, Not Luxury 

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General Nasser Kamel. Asharq Al-Awsat
Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General Nasser Kamel. Asharq Al-Awsat

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General Nasser Kamel confirmed that Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, today more than ever, has become a pressing need, not a luxury.

Speaking about efforts undertaken by the union in 2008, Kamel said they faced many hurdles due to global economic and geopolitical crises, but have seen notable improvement.

“The last three to four years have seen overall relative recovery. First, a number of countries have stabilized and returned to growth. Egypt is a model in this regard, as are Morocco and Jordan,” Kamel said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Today, even Tunisia is stabilizing. Of course, countries such as Libya and Syria still need time, but the geo-strategic situation in general is much better now than in previous years,” he added.

Progress was achieved, according to Kamel, as a result of a strong political will harbored by member states.

The UfM is an intergovernmental organization of 43 member states from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: 28 EU member states and 15 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe.

In the Egyptian capital this week, the UfM organized the first trade forum. The event witnessed the participation of more than 150 representatives of governments, stakeholders, business communities, think tanks and trade interlocutors. Attendees work in regional and international organizations.

On the forum’s sidelines, Kamel told an Asharq Al-Awsat correspondent that the UfM finds a positive model for regional integration in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

He also underscored the GCC’s resilience against nearby cluster economies and fierce trade wars. Addressing rising populism in a number of European countries, Kamel said it will not affect the union’s work.

“The UfM’s success or decline can act as a thermometer of the regional situation,” Kamel said on the union’s importance.

According to Kamel, the UfM initially suffered because Europe was experiencing an unprecedented financial crunch, especially in South Africa and the world—meanwhile, the Arab world was in a state of extraordinary liquidity. And then geopolitical challenges emerged with Arab Spring protests sweeping the region.

“Therefore, Euro-Mediterranean cooperation faced great challenges,” he said.

“For different reasons, there was no stability in the north or south … each party suffered its own share of acute crises that ranged from mass waves of immigration to armed conflicts, and so forth.”

Speaking on progress in the UfM workframe, Kamel stressed that “Euro-Mediterranean cooperation is not a luxury, and that it is based on an objective rooted in geographic, historic and political realities.”

“Integration between Europe and the southern Mediterranean is geo-strategic. We are separated by a lake, not a sea, but joined by a shared history (with its negative and positive aspects) and brought together in a world governed by the logic of blocs,” Kamel said, arguing that this gives the UfM indispensable value.

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.